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Thursday, March 28, 2024
The Observer

Irish run by Toledo, push winning streak to 24

Runs were plentiful for Notre Dame on Wednesday as the No. 24 Irish beat Toledo by a score of 11-1 in five innings. 



Junior pitcher Allie Rhodes winds up against Syracuse at Melissa Cook Stadium on Saturday.  After a win last night, Rhodes is now 17-4.
Junior pitcher Allie Rhodes winds up against Syracuse at Melissa Cook Stadium on Saturday. After a win last night, Rhodes is now 17-4.
Junior pitcher Allie Rhodes winds up against Syracuse at Melissa Cook Stadium on Saturday. After a win last night, Rhodes is now 17-4.


Pitching for the Irish (38-11, 16-5 ACC) was junior left-hander Allie Rhodes. Rhodes allowed the Rockets (38-11, 16-5 ACC) to jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but she was solid from then on, allowing only three hits and recording three strikeouts. Irish head coach Deanna Gumpf said Rhodes did a good job of not being rattled after allowing an early lead.

“[Toledo] got one really good hit in the first inning, then after that, they didn’t hit the ball hard ever again,” Gumpf said. “[Rhodes] got better as the game went on, and she didn’t let that one hit affect her at all.”

Behind Rhodes’ performance, the Irish notched four runs in the third inning and seven runs in the fourth inning after being held scoreless in the first two innings. Gumpf said the momentum change from the first two innings to the third and fourth innings was big for her team.

“[Multi-run innings] just change momentum a ton,” Gumpf said. “The second inning, I thought we started getting better at bats. By the third inning, we had seen [Toledo sophomore pitcher Emily Anderson] once, and we started making good adjustments and started making good adjustments.”

In the third, senior infielder Jenna Simon singled and stole second, then scored off a single from sophomore outfielder Karley Wester. Wester was driven home by a towering double from senior infielder Katey Haus, and junior infielder Micaela Arizmendi cleared the bases with a home run to center field.

In the fourth, junior catcher Casey Africano and freshman infielder Morgan Reed got on base to start the inning. The next batter, junior outfielder Megan Sorlie, hit a double to send home Africano and Reed. Sorlie scored on an error by the Rockets on a throw to second base. Toledo changed pitchers in the middle of the inning, but it did not help as the Irish closed the inning with three two-run home runs from Wester, Arizmendi and freshman infielder Sara White.

Gumpf said the key to the big fourth inning for the Irish was keeping it simple when hitting.

“When we’re seeing the ball, we’re just attacking good pitches,” Gumpf said. “When we attack good pitches, we’re a pretty good team. They keep it real simple; when we keep it simple, we become really good hitters.”

Gumpf said she liked the diversity of her offense, which tallied eight runs from home runs and three runs from singles and stolen bases.

“I really like our balance,” Gumpf said. “I think that we can do a lot of things; we show them something different all the time. I love the speed in our lineup, and that’s really important.”

With the win, the Irish extend their win streak to 24 games as they get ready to take on North Carolina in a three-game series this weekend. Notre Dame is currently third in the ACC, while the Tar Heels are second. The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m., and the series will finish with a game Sunday at noon at Melissa Cook Stadium.