No. 11/9 Softball loses St. Pete/Clearwater Invite finale to Notre Dame

Sunday, February 20

Clearwater, Fla.

10 a.m. CT

University of Texas

5-6

#RV Notre Dame

7-3

Notre Dame

Texas

No. 11/9 Softball loses St. Pete/Clearwater Invite finale to Notre Dame

02.20.2022 | Softball

Box Score

Texas now returns home to McCombs Field to battle North Texas on Wed., Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. CT

CLEARWATER, Fla. – On Sunday in its finale at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, No. 11/9 Texas softball (5-6) dropped a 9-2 decision to Notre Dame (7-3).

Major Players

Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-2, walk, two RBIs); freshman third baseman Mia Scott (1-for-2); freshman first baseman Katie Cimusz (1-for-2, walk, run); senior right fielder Lauren Burke (1-for-3, run); junior shortstop McKenzie Parker (1-for-3)

In the Circle

Sophomore starter Estelle Czech (1-1) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 6.1 innings of work.

The Details

Notre Dame struck first in the top of the second as third baseman Joley Mitchell lined a two-out RBI single up the middle for a 1-0 lead.

A Lauren Burke single and walks to both Cimusz and sophomore center fielder Alyssa Popelka loaded the bases with two outs as the Horns put together a massive threat in the bottom of the second. Jefferson stepped to the plate facing a huge opportunity and delivered in the clutch as her liner tipped off the glove of leaping Notre Dame first baseman Sarah Genz for two RBIs allowing Texas to move in front, 2-1.

The Fighting Irish answered right back to tie things up at 2-2 in the top of the third as left fielder Leea Hanks picked up a RBI on a groundout that ricocheted off the pitcher's glove.

UND added seven runs in the top of the fifth as a combination of shortstop Brooke Marquez' solo HR and two-RBI single, a trio of bases-loaded walks and a Abby Sweet bloop RBI single boosted the Irish lead to 9-2.

Texas threatened again with two aboard in the bottom of the fifth as Popelka walked and Scott singled. Unfortunately, the Longhorns duo was left stranded on a bouncer back to the circle.

Over the final two innings, the Burnt Orange & White got a two-out, sixth-inning single from Cimusz, but that was all as Notre Dame finished off its 9-2 win.