Notre Dame’s 2024 softball season got underway Friday with a pair of games in Clearwater, Florida and the Irish splitting the two.
The Irish defeated Central Arkansas in the opener 3-0 after plating all three runs in the seventh inning, starting with an RBI double from third baseman Cassidy Grimm.
Alexis Laudenslager was excellent on the bump, going 6.1 innings and allowing just one hit. Freshman Kami Kamzik recorded the final two outs for the Fighting Irish.
Game two saw Notre Dame struggle against South Alabama, dropping the contest 5-1. South Alabama opened strong by scoring four runs over the first two innings off of Shannon Becker as the Irish played from behind all game.
Notre Dame’s only run of the contest came in the sixth inning when catcher Carlli Kloss tripled and eventually was batted in by shortstop Addison Amaral.
Notre Dame returns to action Saturday against No. 13 Utah at 1 p.m. ET in a game that will be broadcast on MLB Network, the first ever softball broadcast on the channel.