SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team stays in North Carolina for three midweek games this week. The Fighting Irish will take on the Elon Phoenix, UNCG Spartans and East Carolina Pirates in three-consecutive days beginning Tuesday afternoon. The Irish are 13-7 on the season, fresh off a doubleheader sweep at NC State Saturday. Live stats will be available for all three games, as well as video streams. Tuesday’s matchup will air on FloSoftball at 4 p.m. with Wednesday and Thursday being streamed on ESPN+ at 5 p.m.
The Irish offense found its power Saturday afternoon, hitting seven home runs in the twinbill. That brings the team’s total to 23 long balls on the season, led by Karina Gaskins’ six. The Irish are hitting for a .297 average, led by freshman Mickey Winchell’s .349 average. Carlli Kloss adds a .328 average with eight extra-base hits and 10 RBI. Lexi Orozco leads the team with 16 RBI as five different players have driven in 10 or more runs.
In the circle, the Irish use three pitchers. Payton Tidd has been the team’s ace, logging a team-best 62.1 innings, striking out 59 hitters. Micaela Kastor has started four games, throwing her first complete game in her last outing. She’s earned a 3-0 mark with a 1.22 ERA in 28.2 innings of work. Shannon Becker has picked up three wins in 42.0 innings, striking out 34 hitters.
Elon enters Tuesday’s matchup on a four-game winning streak, defeating Detroit Mercy in a midweek game and sweeping Stony Brook to open play in the Colonial Athletic Association.
The Phoenix offense hits for a .240 team average, led by Claudia Penny’s .364 mark. She leads the team with eight doubles and 16 RBI while also going deep three times. Chloe Hatzopoulos leads the team with four home runs, recording five RBI and hitting at a .273 average.
Six players have logged time in the circle, led by Meredith Wells’s 53.1 innings of work. She’s thrown in 16 games, starting six and earning a pair of complete games. McKenna McCard has started eight games, logging 28.0 innings and earning a 2.75 ERA. As a team, the Phoenix have earned a 4.46 ERA and opponents are hitting .277 against.
The Spartans are 14-11 on the season, having lost three-straight at the Clemson Classic. The perennial Southern Conference contender haven’t lost four-consecutive games since the beginning of the 2021 season.
UNCG is led offensively by Jorde Chartrand. The sophomore is hitting .345 with three home runs and…