SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Fighting Irish softball scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings Friday night, but couldn’t complete the comeback as the University of Notre Dame fell 8-5 to the visiting No. 21/20 Clemson Tigers. Addison Amaral drove in the tying runs in the seventh, as part of a 2-for-5, three RBI performance. The Irish fall to 23-19 overall, and 7-12 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while Clemson improves to 30-14, and 12-7 in the league.
Alexis Laudenslager started in the circle, throwing 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits, four runs, three earned and striking out four. Micaela Kastor suffered the loss, throwing 5.1 innings in relief. The sophomore gave up six hits, four earned runs and struck out five. Shannon Becker retired the one batter she faced to get out of the 10th inning.
Along with Amaral, Carlli Kloss and Mickey Winchell finished with two hits each. Kloss added a pair of doubles, drove in a run and scored once. Winchell scored a pair of runs. Cassidy Grimm added a pair of runs scored to round out the offense.
How It Happened
After two scoreless innings, the Tigers got on the board in the third. A single started the rally as a fly ball to left field was misplayed, allowing a run to score from first as Clemson took the 1-0 lead.
The Irish answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs. Winchell led off the inning with a single to the shortstop, and Grimm moved her up when Clemson misplayed the fielder’s choice at second as both were safe. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position as Kloss lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring one in. Amaral followed with a double that kicked up the chalk down the left field line, bringing in a run and put the Irish up 2-1.
The Tigers regained the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring four runs. An infield single and a double to right put two on as another double off the wall in right scored two runs. The Clemson first baseman followed with a homer down the right field line to score two and put Clemson in front, 5-2.
Notre Dame battled back in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game. A two-out single and a wild pitch put Winchell in scoring position. Grimm reached when the throw from the Clemson shortstop was high, plating a run. A double from Kloss put two in scoring position as Amaral tied it up with a single to center to force extra innings.
After two scoreless extra frames, Clemson forged ahead in the 10th. A lead off solo homer followed by a two-run shot put the Tigers up 8-5. Notre Dame went down in order in its half of the frame as Clemson secured the victory.
Up Next
The series continues tomorrow at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra at Melissa Cook Stadium.