Katie  Marino (27)

#RV/24 Irish Part Of Star-Studded Field In Clearwater

#RV/24 Notre Dame at St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational
Feb. 14-17, 2019
Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex
Clearwater, Florida

No. RV/24 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
(2-2 in 2019)

No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners
(5-0 in 2019)

No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers
(5-0 in 2019)

No. 20/17 Oklahoma State Cowgirls
(4-1 in 2019)

No. RV Minnesota Golden Gophers
(2-1 in 2019)

No. RV California Golden Bears
(3-2 in 2019)

No. RV/23 Ohio State Buckeyes
(3-1 in 2019)

Notre Dame Clearwater Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 14
No. RV/24 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Oklahoma – 7 p.m. (ET)/ESPN3

Friday, Feb. 15
No. RV/24 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Tennessee – 10 a.m. (ET)/ESPNU
No. RV/24 Notre Dame vs. No. 20/17 Oklahoma State – 3 p.m. (ET)

Saturday, Feb. 16
No. RV/24 Notre Dame vs. No. RV Minnesota – 4 p.m. (ET)
No. RV/24 Notre Dame vs. No. RV California – 7 p.m. (ET)/ESPN3

Sunday, Feb. 17
No. RV/24 Notre Dame vs. No. RV/23 Ohio State – 10 a.m. (ET)/ESPNU

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – With the inaugural playing of the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational just one day away, the University of Notre Dame softball team prepares for its latest test in one of the most impressive in-season tournament fields in NCAA Division I softball history.

Of the 16 teams taking part in the event, the Irish are one of 15 teams that are either ranked or receiving votes in this week’s major national polls. Notre Dame will face three opponents in the top 20 during its six games at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex in Clearwater, Florida.

Irish Open 2-2 In Puerto Vallarta

In its first trip to the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge last weekend, Notre Dame finished with a pair of wins over No. RV Liberty (4-1) and No. 3/2 Washington (3-2 in eight innings). The Irish sent shock waves through the college softball world with the biggest upset of the opening weekend of 2019 thanks to the win over the Huskies.

In fact, Notre Dame was five outs away from a perfect showing in Puerto Vallarta after narrow losses to Duke and No. 9 South Carolina, which featured late rallies from both opponents after the Irish had controlled both foes for the majority of the contests.

Program Milestone Win Over UW

The victory over No. 3/2 Washington last weekend, the first for Notre Dame against the Huskies since Feb. 17, 2001 (also 3-2), was the 87th win for the Irish against a ranked foe in program history. The win over Washington was the first for Notre Dame against a national top-three foe in its history.

Notre Dame now owns 30 wins over top-10 opponents since 1994, with Washington being the first team the Irish have defeated multiple times while ranked among the national top five. Notre Dame has now won at least one game against a top-10 foe in each season since 2013, with No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 6 Tennessee on the Irish schedule this weekend in Clearwater.

MK Shines With The Game On The Line

MK Bonamy had a flair for the dramatic in the Notre Dame lineup at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, delivering both game-winning hits for the Irish during the stay in Mexico to earn all-tournament team honors.

Bonamy clubbed a three-run home run in the second inning against No. RV Liberty on Feb. 8, with those runs ultimately the difference in the 4-1 Notre Dame victory. Bonamy came through once more in the top of the eighth inning against No. 3/2 Washington the following day, singling through the right side to bring home what was ultimately the winning run.

Ryan Solid In 2019 Debut

Making just the second start of her career in the circle, Morgan Ryan provided the Notre Dame pitching staff with an impressive spark during the victory against No. RV Liberty.  

Ryan spun an even five innings of five-hit softball, yielding only a lone run to the Flames lineup, while walking one and striking out one, to earn her first collegiate pitching victory. She added 1.1 innings of shutout relief the following day against No. 9 South Carolina.

ND Versus Clearwater Opposition

Notre Dame is a combined 19-23 against the six teams that it will face during the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, in the inaugural year of the showcase hosted by ESPN Events. The Irish own .500 or better records against four of the squads on this weekend’s docket (Oklahoma, 5-5; Tennessee, 3-1; Minnesota, 3-3; Ohio State, 6-3), and will look to continue active win streaks against the Sooners, Golden Gophers and Buckeyes.