SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team scored early and often as it went on to tie a school record, defeating the Detroit Mercy Titans 18-0. The Irish tied the record for largest margin of victory, and most runs scored in a game, matching the record that was set against Robert Morris University March 11th, 1994. Eight of nine starters had hits in the contest as the Irish improved to 18-6 on the season. 15 different players crossed home plate in the victory.
Payton Tidd and Shannon Becker combined in the circle. Tidd earned the win, throwing 3.0 innings, striking out a pair. Becker worked the final 2.0 innings allowing just one hit to go with a strikeout. The two threw just 58 pitches in the victory. Detroit Mercy had just one runner reach second base in the contest.
Jane Kronenberger led the Irish offense, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, a double and scored once. Leea Hanks, Abby Sweet and Joley Mitchell all added a pair of hits. Hanks finished with a triple, Sweet a home run, as both swiped a base. Five players came in off the bench to get a hit, none louder than Bryn Boznanski’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth.
Notre Dame got on the board first as Hanks tripled to left center and scored when Clark chopped a ground ball back to third to give the Irish the 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The Irish took a commanding lead in the bottom of the second, scoring seven runs. The inning started with three-straight singles to load the bases. Back-to-back walks scored two and a sacrifice fly to center field added the third run. Karina Gaskins drove a single the opposite way to drive in Carlli Kloss, and Tidd followed with a double to right field to score Hanks. Kronenberger drove a double back up the middle to score two and extend the lead to 8-0, Notre Dame.
Sweet and the Irish went back to work in the third, scoring four runs. Clark drove in the first run of the frame with a bunt single, and Sweet followed by driving a ball to the trees in left center to extend the lead to 12-0.
The Irish tied the school record in the fourth, scoring six runs. Miranda Johnson pinch hit to lead off the inning and reached on an error. Shelby Grimm doubled down the third base line and Mac Vasquez drove in the first run of her career with a single to through the right side. Macie Eck pinch hit, and singled up the middle, driving in the fifth run of her career, first this season. Boznanski drove in three more when she hammered a home run to left field. It was the sophomore’s first career hit. After a triple from Anna Holloway, Kronenberger singled to bring her in and tie the school record with 18 runs.
Up Next
The Irish are back at Melissa Cook Stadium tomorrow night as they host the Western Michigan Broncos at 4 p.m.