The University of Notre Dame softball team lost to Louisville by a score of 8-5 on Apr. 11 at Melissa Cook Stadium. The matchup was part of the program’s annual Strikeout Cancer game, which included a weekend of recognition and events.
The loss puts Notre Dame at a record of 17-24 overall and 6-11 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Louisville improved to 33-9 overall and 9-4 in the conference.
Freshman Lily Hagan contributed both offensively and defensively for Notre Dame. She hit her fourth home run of the season during the fourth inning and pitched three innings, lowering her earned run average to 2.10 over ten innings this year. Hagan’s four home runs are tied for the team lead.
Sophomore Caitlyn Early led off the bottom of the fifth with her second home run this season, marking her first career home run at Melissa Cook Stadium. Early also drew two walks during the game.
Freshman Ava Zachary achieved her twelfth multi-hit game this season, which leads the team. Zachary doubled off the left field wall in the third inning—her eleventh double—which is tied for second-most by a freshman in ACC play this year.
Junior Kami Kamzik started as pitcher for Notre Dame, striking out four batters across four innings before encountering difficulty in the fifth inning.
Notre Dame will seek to win the series against Louisville on Sunday at Melissa Cook Stadium. The next game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, and admission remains free for all regular season Irish softball games.
