The rubber match of No. 23 Notre Dame’s three-game series with No. 7 Florida State was canceled Monday because of inclement weather. Due to a steep drop in temperature — the teams played two games Sunday in pleasant, mid-60-degree weather — the ACC’s cold-weather policy kicked in.
A makeup game will not be scheduled, but the Irish could face the Seminoles again in early May at the ACC championship.
The game, which was set to air on ESPNU, would have decided the outcome of Notre Dame’s first home ACC series after a number of cancellations. In Sunday’s first game, senior pitcher Laura Winter (16-4) threw a complete game as Notre Dame (25-9, 6-4 ACC) earned its 22nd win in program history over a top-10 opponent, 8-5.
The win also signified a number of milestones. The Seminoles (39-6, 16-3) were the highest-ranked opponent that the Irish have beaten since they took down No. 4 Nebraska in 2002. The win also marked Irish coach Deanna Gumpf’s 533rd victory, tying her for second with longtime baseball coach Paul Mainieri among Irish baseball and softball coaches all-time. Finally, the win was the 99th of Winter’s career, as she looks to become the first pitcher in program history to record 100 victories.
The Irish fell in the second game, 9-7, in nine innings. Junior third baseman Katey Haus hit a sixth-inning grand slam to break a 3-3 tie, but the Seminoles stormed back in the top of the seventh inning after senior catcher Celeste Gomez completed a four-run rally of Florida State’s own with a two-run single. In the ninth inning, Florida State redshirt freshman Alex Powers pinch-hit another two-run single off sophomore pitcher Allie Rhodes (5-4) to salvage the day for the Seminoles.
Still, the Irish have won four of their last five in the ACC after a 2-3 start to conference play.
Notre Dame is back in action Wednesday as it takes on Toledo, who has struggled in five straight losses and has also dropped seven of its last nine. The game will be played at Melissa Cook Stadium, and first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
