Notre Dame Tops ECU, 5-0

Sunday, March 10

Boca Raton, Fla.

11:15 a.m.

East Carolina University

13-9

Notre Dame

13-7

ECU

Notre Dame

Photo by: Rob Goldberg

March 10, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Notre Dame starter Alexis Holloway limited ECU to just one hit Sunday as the Fighting Irish defeated the Pirates 5-0 at the FAU Softball Stadium.

ECU ends the weekend with a 13-9 overall record while Notre Dame improves to 13-7.

Rachel McCollum broke up Holloway's perfect game bid with a single in the top of the fifth inning representing the Pirates' lone hit. Abby Sweet was 3-for-3 and Melissa Rochford drove in a pair of runs to pace the Irish.

Holloway (6-4) went the distance in the circle, tossing a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts and no walks. Whitney Sanford (3-4) also turned in a complete-game effort, surrendering five runs on 11 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

After the teams combined for just one base runner through the first two innings, Notre Dame broke through in the bottom of the third. A couple of one-out infield singles followed by a RBI double off the bat of Katie Marino staked the Irish to a 1-0 lead. Cait Brooks then rapped out a RBI single to leave Notre Dame with a 2-0 cushion moving to the fourth inning.

The Irish put the game away in the bottom of the fifth, plating three runs on four hits. Rochford accounted for two of the runs with a double and MK Bonamy plated Notre Dame's fifth run via an infield single.

The Pirates went down in order in the sixth and seventh frames to end the game.

ECU returns to the field Wednesday, March 13, with a non-conference doubleheader at Longwood. Game one is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start.