Notre Dame secured a series win over Cal on March 29, thanks to a two-run, walk-off home run by freshman Ava Zachary in extra innings at Melissa Cook Stadium. The Fighting Irish improved their record to 15-19 overall and 5-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference play with the 9-7 victory.
The win was highlighted by Zachary’s standout performance. She recorded four hits and four runs batted in during the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader. Zachary currently leads the team with a .395 batting average and is tied for the team lead with four home runs and 19 RBI. Her .630 slugging percentage and seven doubles are also team bests.
Freshman Hayden Kyne contributed significantly throughout the weekend, pairing with Zachary as an effective offensive duo. Kyne, who holds a .328 batting average this season, went two-for-four with a three-run homer in Sunday’s second game—her second career home run—and drove in seven runs during the series against Cal. Senior Mickey Winchell also played a key role, hitting .692 over the weekend with nine hits and scoring seven runs.
Pitchers Kami Kamzik and Micaela Kastor provided crucial relief for Notre Dame. Kamzik earned her fifth win of the season after pitching a scoreless eighth inning, while Kastor threw more than four innings in relief, allowing just two runs.
Notre Dame will return to Melissa Cook Stadium for its first midweek contest of the season against Western Michigan on Tuesday night at 5:00 p.m., with free admission available for all regular season games.
