DUNDALK, Md. – The Notre Dame softball team opened their home schedule on Wednesday afternoon against The College at Old Westbury.  The Gators were slated to face the Panthers in a doubleheader, but an extended first game forced a cancellation of their second game of the day due to nightfall.

Game 1
The Gators scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Junior Naudiya Hopkins was the first to get on base for NDMU with one out down.  She reached on an error by the shortstop.  Junior Isa Carunungan up to the plate next, drove a single up the middle to put Hopkins in scoring position.

Next at bat for the Gators, senior Samantha Kastner hit her fifth double of the season to score Hopkins from second.  Kastner is currently in second in the Colonial States Athletic Conference for doubles so far this season.

Four players recorded hits in the game for NDMU.  Carunungan led the team with two hits, while Hopkins, Kastner, and junior Maya Lazaro finished with one apiece. 

Defensively, Kastner finished with eight putouts, followed by Hopkins in center field with four.  Freshman Amethyst Stevens added three putouts, while Lazaro and sophomore Lucy Polvinale tallied two apiece.
Pitching for the Gators, Carunungan finished her first plate appearance with three strikeouts.

Game 2
The second game of the doubleheader was called early due to nightfall after four and a half innings of play.  Because the NCAA minimum is five innings, the game was ruled no contest and will not be made up.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Gators continue their home schedule on Saturday as they host Cairn University in their CSAC season opener.