JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Notre Dame softball team cruised to a 7-2 win over the Samford Bulldogs Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Irish forged ahead in the second inning, and never relinquished their lead, scoring three runs in the third and fourth innings to put the game out of reach. Notre Dame improves to 6-2 on the season with the win.
Shannon Becker started in the circle. The junior threw 3.0 scoreless innings, scattering just four hits before handing the ball to the bullpen. Kami Kamzik came on and threw an inning, giving up an unearned run and striking out two. Kastor threw the final three innings, earning the win. The sophomore allowed one earned run, and retired seven of her nine outs with ground balls.
The Irish offense was led by Emily Tran, finishing a perfect 3-for-3. Addison Amaral added a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3 with her second homer in as many days, driving in three and scoring once. The top five hitters in the Irish lineup all scored a run as seven of nine starters tallied a hit. Bryn Boznanski also added a pinch hit single late.
How It Happened
The Irish got on the board in the bottom of the second. With runners on second and third, Cassidy Grimm put a ball on the ground to bring in a run and put the Irish up.
Notre Dame added three more in the third, courtesy of the long ball. A walk from Karina Gaskins and a Jane Kronenberger single put two on for Amaral, who delivered her second homer in as many days to put the Irish up 4-0 after three innings.
Samford got on the board in the top of the fourth. An error put the lead runner on as a single and a walk loaded the bases. Another misplay allowed the run to score as the Bulldogs got on the board for the first time in 10 total innings against Notre Dame.
The Irish manufactured some runs in the fourth inning, plating three more. Grimm singled and took advantage of a misplay to head over to third base before scoring on a Holloway ground ball. Tran reignited the rally with a single to right center and moved up on a Kloss single back up the middle. Gaskins kept that same approach, singling back through the box to bring in Tran and extend the lead to 6-1. Kloss took advantage of a wild pitch to score the third run of the frame as the Irish closed the fourth with a 7-1 lead.
Kastor surrendered a run in the seventh, but Samford could come no closer than 7-2.
Up Next
The second half of Saturday’s doubleheader was postponed due to inclement weather. The Irish will take on the North Florida Ospreys at 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning to conclude their weekend in Jacksonville.