HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The University of Notre Dame softball team split a pair of games with in-state foes Saturday in Huntington, West Virginia. Rain delayed the start of the day by five hours, before the Fighting Irish faced off with the Indiana State Sycamores and Ball State Cardinals. Notre Dame earned an 11-9 win over Indiana State before falling 12-3 in five innings to the Cardinals.
Alexis Laudenslager started in the circle against the Sycamores. The graduate transfer threw 3.2 innings, matching a season-best seven strikeouts in a no-decision. She allowed two hits and four earned runs before giving way to Shannon Becker. Becker worked 1.1 innings, earning the win while allowing eight hits, and five earned runs. Micaela Kastor picked up her second save of the season, throwing the final 2.0 innings, striking out a pair without allowing a run.
The Irish offense had eight of nine starters earn a hit in the contest, led by lead off hitter Carlli Kloss. Kloss finished a perfect 4-for-4 with a season-high five RBI, a homer, a double and scored twice. Others with a multi-hit performance included Cassidy Grimm and Rachel Allen. Grimm drove in a run and scored once, with Allen following suit, paired with a double. Emily Tran, Addison Amaral, Mickey Winchell, and Jane Kronenberger each added a hit in the contest. Kronenberger hit her first homer of the season to lead off the second inning.
Kastor started the nightcap, throwing 2.0 innings, allowing three hits, six earned runs and striking out three. Kami Kamzik came on in relief, allowing an unearned run on a hit in 0.2 innings. Alexis Laudenslager worked an inning in relief, allowing a hit, four earned runs and striking out three. Shannon Becker got the final out, allowing a hit, an earned run and a strikeout.
Tran and Amaral led the offense against Ball State, each finishing 2-for-3. Tran added her first double of the season and Amaral drove in a run. Kloss, Kronenberger and Allen each tallied a hit, Kronenberger’s being her second homer of the day. Gaskins added a 0-for-1 performance, drawing a pair of walks including setting the career record for walks in a career with her total now at 122.
How It Happened – Indiana State
Notre Dame took an early lead, plating a pair of runs in the first inning Tran started the rally with a one-out triple and scored when Gaskins flew out to deep right field. Amaral kept the rally going with a double to left and scored when Winchell went the other way for a single to put the Irish up 2-0 after the first.
Laudenslager struck out the side in the second and the Irish offense kept the pressure on in the bottom half. A lead off homer from Kronenberger extended the lead before a single and a walk turned the lineup card over. Kloss hammered her first homer of the season to extend the lead to 6-0 as Indiana State went to the bullpen.
The Sycamores took advantage of a couple free passes in the fourth and got some timely hitting to erase the deficit. Indiana State used four hits to score six runs and tie the game at six each after the top of the fourth.
Notre Dame got back on top in the fourth inning. Kloss doubled with one out and moved up on a Tran ground out. Gaskins clutched up and singled to right to bring in Kloss and put the Irish back on top, 7-6.
The Irish rallied for three more in the sixth inning. A single from Grimm and a walk to Kronenberger put a pair on for Allen who doubled to bring in one and put runners on second and third. Kloss drove a single to right center to score two and extend the lead to 10-6.
Indiana State stormed out in the sixth inning, scoring three runs. The Sycamores took advantage of five hits, all singles as they cut the Irish lead down to one.
Gaskins helped add an insurance run in the sixth inning. The senior drew her program record 121st career walk to start the inning and was lifted for a pinch runner. A sacrifice bunt and a ground ball moved the runner to third as Grimm clutched up for a single up the middle to score one and extend the lead to 11-9.
How It Happened – Ball State
Kronenberger got things going against the Cardinals, leading off the second inning with a solo homer.
With two outs, the Irish rallied to scratch another run home. Freshman Sydny Poeck drew a walk and turned the lineup card over. Kloss singled through the right side and an infield single from Tran loaded the bases. Gaskins drew a walk to double up the lead to 2-0 in the second inning.
Ball State answered the bell with six runs of its own in the second inning, taking the 6-2 lead. An unearned run in the third inning extended the lead out to 7-2 after three complete.
The Irish got a run back with two outs in the fourth. Gaskins drew a walk and a passed ball put her in scoring position. A single from Amaral brought her in and cut the lead to 7-3.
The Cardinals took advantage of some wild Irish pitching in the fourth, taking advantage of three walks and a single to bring in a run and load the bases. After a pitching change, the Irish surrendered a home run as Ball State extended its lead to 12-3.
Notre Dame couldn’t find the runs it needed to extend the game in the fifth as the Irish dropped the contest in five innings.
Next Up
The Irish are back in action Sunday as they close the weekend with a rematch with the Ball State Cardinals.