CLEARWATER, Fla. – Alexis Laudenslager and Micaela Kastor combined for a shutout victory over the Liberty Flames to close the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida. The pitchers allowed just two hits and just two free passes to earn the victory. The Fighting Irish finish the weekend 3-2, with wins over two opponents receiving votes in the Top 25 polls.
Laudenslager started the game in the circle, throwing 4.0 innings, allowing two hits and striking out three, picking up her second win of the season. Kastor came on in relief, earning her first save of the season. The sophomore threw 3.0 innings, striking out three.
At the plate, junior Emily Tran and Karina Gaskins paved the way. Each tallied a two-hit effort, Tran finishing 2-for-3 with her first multi-hit effort of her career. Gaskins added a pair of singles in the win. Carlli Kloss and Cassidy Grimm each made the most of their hits, driving in two and one runs, respectively.
How It Happened
Notre Dame scored first in the top of the second inning. A chopper back to the pitcher was misplayed, putting Mickey Winchell on first. A stolen base moved her into scoring position for Grimm who doubled down the left field line to put the irish up. A bunt single from Tran put runners on the corners before Tran swiped second. Kloss capitalized on the opportunity with a single to center to score two as the Irish took the 3-0 lead.
Liberty threatened in the fifth, with the leadoff hitter reaching on an error, stealing second and moving to third. Kastor worked out of the jam with a strikeout, a groundout and a fly out to Tran to end the threat.
The Flames got the leadoff runner on in the seventh, but Kloss erased the threat with her second runner caught stealing of the season. Kastor closed it out with a strikeout and got the final hitter of the game to pop up to Anna Holloway in foul territory.
Up Next
Notre Dame returns to action next Friday as it heads back to the Sunshine State for the Jacksonville/North Florida Invitational.