SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball dropped its home finale Sunday afternoon to the visiting Boston College Eagles, 6-3. The game was the final regular season contest of the 2024 season as the Fighting Irish finish the regular season 26-22 overall and 9-15 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Shannon Becker started in the circle for the final game at home of the year. The junior threw 2.1 innings, allowing six hits, six runs, four earned and struck out one as she suffered the loss. Alexis Laudenslager came on in relief, throwing the final 4.2 innings, scattering three hits, without allowing a run. She walked two and struck out three hitters.
Carlli Kloss led the Irish attack, finished 3-for-4 and scored twice. Cassidy Grimm added the other hit in the contest, driving in a pair of runs. Karina Gaskins reached base in all four plate appearances, drawing a pair of walks and being hit by two pitches. Emily Tran also drew a walk and scored a run.
How It Happened
Boston College took the early lead, plating a run in the first. Back-to-back one-out singles started a rally as a double to right drove in the first run. BC got aggressive on the bases, but the Irish defense was equal to the task, throwing out the runner attempting to score, limiting the damage.
The Irish struck for a run in the first as well. Kloss led off with a bunt single and advanced to second when no one covered first base on the bunt and the throw went into right field. Winchell connected on a ball up the middle that was misplayed, allowing Kloss to score and the Irish to tie the game.
The Eagles rallied in the third, scoring five runs to take the 6-1 lead.
After putting runners on in two of the next four innings, the Irish finally broke through in the seventh. Tran drew a lead off walk and Kloss followed with her third single of the day. A stolen base and a walk loaded the bases as Grimm drove in two runs with a single through the left side. With the tying run now at the plate, Notre Dame bounced into a ground out at first for the final out to retire the threat.
Up Next
The Irish await their fate to see if they qualify for the ACC Tournament in Durham May 8-11. Currently the Irish sit in eighth place in the conference with a weekend of regular season games remaining for Louisville, Boston College, Syracuse, Florida State Pitt and NC State. The Irish are currently ahead of all in that grouping with the exception of Florida State.