May 6, 2017
by Tony Jones
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Boston College answered an early 5-1 deficit to the University of Notre Dame softball team with a five-run rally of its own. The Eagles scored five unanswered over the final three innings, including a two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh, to stun the Irish 6-5 on Saturday and even the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) series between the teams at one game apiece.
How It Happened
Two early singles and a walk for Boston College pushed the first Eagle run across in the top of the first inning. Notre Dame starter Katie Beriont bounced back by forcing a flyout to right field and two swinging strikeouts to escape the jam.
Notre Dame found an answer in the bottom of the first inning. A pair of fielder’s choices allowed Morgan Reed to reach third base with two outs. Melissa Rochford cashed in by ripping an RBI single off the glove of the Boston College second baseman, scoring Reed to tie the game at 1-1.
A scoreless inning for Beriont in the top of the third in the circle opened the floodgates for the Notre Dame offense in the bottom of the frame. Reed drove a one-out RBI single up the middle to give the Irish a 2-1 lead. Rochford brought Reed home later in the inning thanks to an infield single and Boston College fielding error, pushing the Notre Dame edge to 3-1. Katie Marino closed the inning scoring with a crucial two-run double off the wall in center, bringing home Rochford and Kimmy Sullivan (5-1).
Boston College chipped away at the lead by way of a Notre Dame wild pitch and a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth frame, closing the margin to just two at 5-3. Rachel Nasland induced two straight fly ball outs to center to hold the Notre Dame lead
An RBI single with one out in the top of the seventh inning for Boston College pulled the Eagles within one at 5-4. A successful squeeze bunt and RBI single to left pushed Boston College ahead to the comeback victory.
Up Next
Notre Dame and Boston College close the 2017 regular season on Sunday. First pitch is set for noon (ET) on ACC Network Extra.
For the latest news and updates on all things Notre Dame softball, visit www.und.com/softball, follow the Irish @NDsoftball and @NDcoachGumpf on Twitter and at Instagram.com/notredamesoftball, and Like the team at Facebook.com/NDSoftball.
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Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball and men’s soccer programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.