The Notre Dame Varsity Softball team improved to 17-5 with a doubleheader sweep over St. Catherine.
Lauren Koenig picked up the 5-1 win in the first contest, yielding an unearned run on eight hits, striking out five and walking none. The Stars lone run came in the first on a double, wild pitch and an error. The Irish answered in the bottom of the first with a lead off single by Elena Schwegman, who advanced to second on a sacrifice and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The Irish took the lead in the fourth as Koenig reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced to third on a single by Meaghan Orloski and scored on a wild pitch. Notre Dame scored again in the fifth when Sydney Newby doubled off of the centerfield fence, Ryan McLain followed with a single and Newby scored on a Schwegman sacrifice. The Irish plated two more runs in the sixth with Jordan Smith leading off with a single, a walk to Orloski, and a two-run double by Newby. Schwegman, Jordan and Newby all had a pair of hits in the win.
Game two saw the teams combine for 26 runs. The Stars opened the scoring as Sarah Johnston blasted a two-run home run in the first inning. The Irish answered with a home run of their own as Schwegman cleared the right centerfield fence. The Stars added took a 5-1 lead in the third but the Irish answered with a pair of run when Kara Thornton led off with a walk, Smith followed with a single, Koenig and Orloski walked, and Ella Easterwood also walked to push a run across. In the fourth, the Stars took advantage of another Irish error to take a 6-3 lead. Once again the Irish had an answer in their half of the inning scoring six runs to take their first lead of the game. Schwegman got things started with a triple, Thornton followed with a walk and Smith cleared the bases with a blast well over the centerfield fence. Following the home run the Stars made a pitching change. Koenig greeted the new pitcher with a single and Orloski, Easterwood, Newby and Schwegman all collected hits as the Irish sent 11 batters to the plate. The Stars would not go away, they responded with five runs to regain an 11-9 lead. The Irish once again battled back to regain the lead with hits by Smith and Orloski, a walk to Koenig, and a triple from Easterwood for the game-winning RBI. Newby drove Easterwood insurance as Notre Dame took the game 15-11.
Smith picked up the win on the mound, giving up 11 runs (six earned) on 10 hits while striking out seven. At the plate, Smith had four hits, a home run, three runs and three RBI. Schwegman had three hits, a home run, two runs and two RBI. Orlowski finished with three hits and three runs, Newby had three hits and three RBI and Easterwood had two runs and four RBI.