April 3, 2017
LOUISVILLE, Ky. ââ’¬” A three-run bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference for Louisville, as the host Cardinals salvaged the final game of a three-game Atlantic Conference Coast (ACC) series with a 7-4 win over the University of Notre Dame softball team on Monday night at Ulmer Stadium.
How It Happened
An RBI triple and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning put Louisville (21-10, 5-2 ACC) ahead 2-0. A foulout behind the bag at first base ended the Cardinals half.
Morgan Reed sparked a Notre Dame (19-14, 6-6 ACC) rally in the top of the fourth with a sharp single up the middle. Caitlyn Brooks answered the call with a two-run home run over the left field fence, tying the game at 2-2 with her fifth long ball of the season.
Louisville re-took the lead with a solo home run to begin the bottom of the fourth inning, pushing the Cardinals ahead 3-2.
Notre Dame wild pitches in the fifth and sixth innings carried the Louisville lead forward to 7-2. Notre Dame reliever Brooks worked out of the bottom of the sixth with a ground ball out to second base.
Sara White reached first with one away in the top of the seventh inning after a hard-hit ball to short yielded a Louisville error. Maddie McCracken then singled to shortstop for the second time on the day to put two runners aboard. Ali Wester ripped a two-run single up the chute for the final tally of the game at 7-4.
Up Next
The Irish and Fort Wayne are scheduled to meet for a nonconference midweek showdown on Wednesday at 5 p.m. (ET). The contest will air live on ACC Network Extra.
–ND–