SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team earned a 1-0 win over the visiting UIC Flames Wednesday night at Melissa Cook Stadium. The Fighting Irish got a dominant start from sophomore Micaela Kastor who threw her second complete game of the season, setting a new career-best with 10 strikeouts.
Kastor allowed just two hits and four base runners in Wednesday’s win. The sophomore never allowed more than two runners on base in an inning as she recorded at least one strikeout in each frame. Kastor bookended the contest with strikeouts, and had multiple strikeouts in three innings.
The Irish offense got just what it needed to earn the win with five hits. Jane Kronenberger led the way with a 2-for-2 effort and drew a walk. The top of the order got the run home in the fifth as Kloss scored on an Amaral sacrifice fly. Mickey Winchell, Cassidy Grimm and Anna Holloway each tallied a hit in the contest.
How It Happened
The Irish threatened in the bottom of the second, as Grimm reached with a ground ball that was misplayed by the UIC defense. A ground ball moved her up and a single up the middle put runners on the corners. Holloway hit a sharp ground ball, directly at the third baseman who made a diving tag attempt to get Grimm at third, and a ground out retired the threat as the game remained scoreless.
After four scoreless innings, the Irish finally broke in for a solo run in the fifth. A lead-off walk and a single put runners on the corners. A stolen base put them in scoring position as Amaral lifted a fly ball to right field to score Carlli Kloss and put the Irish up 1-0.
That lead would hold as Kastor would suffocate the Flames offense, allowing just one base runner over the final two innings.
Up Next
The Irish continue their homestand this Friday as they host the Boston College Eagles in a three-game Atlantic Coast conference series, beginning at 5 p.m.