DUNDALK, Md. – The 2019 softball team concluded their season today, hosting Clarks Summit University on Senior Day.  The Gators racked up 28 hits against the Defenders over both games, splitting the doubleheader, 10-12 and 12-2.

GAME 1
In their first game of the day against Clarks Summit, the Gators had their bat going early posting two runs in the bottom of the first.  Senior Samantha Kastner doubled to left field, scoring junior Isa Carunungan from first.  Batting after Kastner, sophomore Jodie Bronushas posted her first hit of the day, to score Kastner.

After one inning, the Gators held a narrow lead, 2-1.

A scoreless second innings for both teams, took the game to the third inning, where both the Gators and Defenders notched three runs apiece.

With two outs down and junior Naudiya Hopkins on first after being hit by a pitch, Kastner stepped up to the plate.  She notched her second career homerun and second for the season.

After Kastner cleared the bases, Bronushas hit a solo homerun to get back to a one run lead, 5-4.

In a tough fifth inning defensively, the Gators gave up five runs to the Defenders, finishing the inning with two errors. 

In the bottom of the fifth the team capitalized on a passed ball and error by the catcher to score two, now down, 7-9.

In the sixth and seventh, Clarks Summit added three more runs.  

Bronushas hit another home run in the bottom of the seventh, to score three, but their rally fell short, 10-12.

Kastner and Bronushas lead the team at the plate, going 4-for-4, while Bronushas notched five RBI and Kastner with three. 

Pitching for the Gators, Bronushas recorded eight strikeouts.  In the second inning, she notched her 100^th career strikeout, and 100^th of the season.

In between games, Notre Dame honored seniors, Kastner, Hunter King, and Maya Lazaro. 

GAME 2
In their second game against CSU, Notre Dame kept their bats going, racking up 13 hits in just five innings.  Every batter recorded a hit or run in the 12-2 victory.

In the top of the first inning, the Gators started in the hole, down, 0-2.

In the bottom of the inning, with freshman Maci Lopezand Hopkins on base, Carunungan hit a base-clearing triple to tie the game up, 2-2.

Kastner, sophomore Samantha Miguez Tolliver, and King scored three more to close out the inning, 5-2.

The Gators in the four remaining innings, added on seven more runs to take the second game, 12-2 in five innings. 

Lopez went 4-for-4 in game two, while Carunungan led the team with three RBI.  King hit his first career double on senior day, to score Lazaro in the first inning.

Pitching, Carunungan, notched three strikeouts. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
In the 2019 season, the Gators posted 10 wins, tying a program record.  In 2014, the team finished the season 10-16, same as the 2019 season.  NDMU finished tied for second in the conference in batting average and fourth in slugging percentage. Bronushas finished second in the league in hitting percentage and third in strikeouts in CSAC play.