Notre Dame softball spent its third weekend of the 2025 season at the Mardi Gras Classic in Mobile, Alabama. Matching up against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, South Alabama, Maine and Lipscomb, the Irish went 3-2, moving to 8-7 on the year.
Texas A&M Corpus Christi 3, Notre Dame 8
Notre Dame’s weekend opener on Friday began with four runs across the first three innings. Sophomore infielder Addison Amaral started the scoring with a double that brought home senior outfielder Mickey Winchell. Senior infielder Anna Holloway doubled the lead with a second-inning single that scored senior utility player Jane Kronenberger. Though the Islander briefly tied the game with a two-run top of the third, Notre Dame pulled back ahead on a 2-run Kronenberger double in the bottom half.
Up 4-2, the Irish settled into the game behind right-hander Shannon Becker. Sophomore right-hander Kami Kamzik started in the circle for the Irish, striking out five but conceding two 2 runs in two innings. Her successor, Becker, worked four solid innings, navigating five hits to keep the Irish ahead 4-3 midway through the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, the Irish put the game on ice with four runs, as senior catcher Rachel Allen capped off the surge with another 2-run double. Winchell, who scored 3 runs in the game, came home again on the two-bagger.
Freshman left-hander Brianne Weiss closed the game out for the Irish, striking out two in a perfect seventh inning.
Notre Dame 4, South Alabama 5
In a game that featured three lead changes, the Irish jumped ahead first on a single by sophomore infielder Olivia Levitt. The 1-0 edge would hold up through the midway point of the game, as junior right-hander Micaela Kastor opened the night with four scoreless frames. However, the Jaguars got to her in the fifth, drawing three walks and moving ahead on a 2-run Amity White double.
The Irish reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth, as a South Alabama throwing error evened the score before junior utility Paige Cowley singled for the lead. The Jaguars answered right back in the bottom of the sixth, plating 3 runs against the combination of Weiss and graduate right-hander Alexis Laudenslager. Though Notre Dame pulled back within a run on senior outfielder Emily Tran’s last-stand RBI double, South Alabama starter Ryley Harrison closed out her complete game with an Amaral groundout, and the Jaguars won 5-4.
Maine 0, Notre Dame 8
Becker led off Saturday’s Irish doubleheader by throwing the 40th solo no-hitter in program history. On 85 pitches, the junior posted six hitless innings, walking one and punching out six.
The Irish gave her an early lead in the second inning, as Winchell smacked a 2-run single that scored Kronenberger and Allen. Notre Dame added on another run in the fifth, as Kronenberger produced a run by hitting into the fielder’s choice.
Becker finished off her sixth hitless inning expecting to need three more outs, as the Irish led 3-0 midway through the sixth. However, Notre Dame’s offense wiped those three outs off her checklist, scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game on the run rule. Levitt and freshman infielder Caitlyn Early each drove in a pair of runs before Allen sealed the no-hitter on a bases-loaded walk.
Notre Dame 1, South Alabama 9
The Jaguars had Notre Dame’s number again in game two on Saturday. Although the Irish outhit South Alabama 7-6, the host capitalized on three Notre Dame errors to win in six innings.
Kamzik started in the circle for the Irish, conceding 4 runs (3 earned) in four innings, including a solo home run by Gabby Stagner. Though the Irish closed within a 2-1 deficit in the fourth on one of senior outfielder Emily Tran’s two hits, the Jaguars pulled away with 6 runs across the fifth and sixth innings. Tagging Kastor for 5 runs on four walks in 1 ⅔ innings, South Alabama blew the game open with a 3-run blast off the bench from Brooklynn Bockhaus.
Notre Dame 15, Lipscomb 4
Notre Dame’s offense cleared 10 runs for the first time this season in the Sunday finale, scoring 4 in the third inning, 7 in the fourth and 4 more in the seventh. Meanwhile, Kastor bounced back in the circle with five shutout innings, allowing only three hits and walking one while striking out five.
The Irish ambushed Lipscomb starter Ryleigh Sapp for 8 runs on 11 hits in three innings, beginning with a 2-run Allen single in the third. Kronenberger finished the frame with a solo home run, her team-leading second of the season. Notre Dame really broke out in the fourth, as Winchell, Levitt and sophomore utility player Sydny Poeck each singled to plate 2 runs.
Though a Tori Womack grand slam kept the Bisons out of run-rule territory, Notre Dame moved back into an 11-run lead in the seventh. Poeck finished the scoring with her third hit of the day, tying Winchell for the game high in base knocks.
Next weekend, the Irish will head to Fullerton, California, to play five games at the Judi Garman Classic. They’ll start with a Thursday doubleheader against UCLA and Cal State Fullerton.
