WASHINGTON, D.C., -- Notre Dame softball opened up their 2019 season on Sunday at Gallaudet.  The Gators were slated to travel to Virginia Beach this weekend for the Virginia Beach Blast tournament.  Inclement weather forced a cancelation of the tournament.  NDMU picked up a doubleheader Sunday at Gallaudet, a team also displaced from the canceled tournament.

Game 1
The Gators opened up strong against the Bison, notching five runs in the top of the first inning.  Freshman Maci Lopez, leading off, got on base first after being hit by a pitch.  The next two batters, juniors Naudiya Hopkins and Isa Carunungan both got on base with a single and double, respectively.  Lopez scoring on Carunungan's double.

Senior Samantha Kastner, batting fourth hit a base-clearing double to score both Carunungan and Hopkins.  In her first career at-bat, sophomore Jodie Bronushas walked moving Kastner into scoring position.  A wild pitch advanced Kastner and Bronushas.  Sophomore Rena Dyson grounded out to the pitcher and in a play at the plate, Kastner scored on Bison catcher error. 

In her first at bat of the season, sophomore Samantha Miguez Tolliver singled to score Bronushas from third.

After giving up two runs in the bottom of the first, the Gators went scoreless over the second and third innings.  The Bison got within one score in the bottom of the third, Gators going into the top of the fourth up, 5-4.

Carunungan led off in the fourth, knocking in a single.  Kastner followed, hitting another double to right center, this time scoring Carunungan from first base.  Following Kastner, Bronushas singled down the left field line to put Kastner on third.  Dyson hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field to score Kastner from third. 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Gators again gave up to more scores, but held on to their lead, 7-6. 

In the final two innings, Notre Dame held Gallaudet scoreless while tacking on six more runs.  They recorded their first win of the season over the Bison, 13-6.

Kastner and Carunungan lead the team at the plate with Kastner finishing with four hits, six RBIs, and three runs.  Carunungan recorded three hits, two RBIs, and three runs. 

Pitching for the Gators, Bronushas in seven innings recorded seven strike outs.

Game 2
In game two, Notre Dame struggled to score.  After going scoreless over the first six innings, the Gators finally got on the board in the top of the seventh.  Down 4-0 to open the seventh inning, sophomore Lucy Polvinale led off, hitting an infield single.  Now at the top of the order, Polvinale stole second.

Lopez singled to center field and advanced to second on an attempt to get out Polvinale advancing to third.   Hopkins struck out and then Carunungan walked seeing Kastner up at the plate.  With the bases loaded, Kastner walked to score Polvinale from third base. 

With the bases loaded again, Bronushas singled, scoring both Carunungan and Lopez.  She advanced to second in attempts to get the base runners out at home. 

With Kastner at third and Bronushas at second base, a passed ball allowed Kastner to score and moving Bronushas to third base.  The Gators tied up the game at four apiece before heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The Bison notched a walk-off triple to end the game, Gators fall, 5-4.

Lopez and Bronushas both lead the team with two hits apiece, while Bronushas finished with two RBIs.  She also recorded five strikeouts.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Gators have the week off from play, but will return to action on Friday as they host Valley Forge at CCBC Dundalk.