The Valpo softball team briefly stepped away from Missouri Valley Conference action on Wednesday, falling at Notre Dame by an 8-0 final as three different Fighting Irish pitchers combined on a no-hitter.

How It Happened

• Valpo had the first baserunner of the game as senior Brittany Anderson (East Chicago, Ind./Bishop Noll) was hit by a pitch with two outs in the first. A hard line-out ended the inning, however.
• The Fighting Irish scored two runs in the first and one run in the second to take a 3-0 lead. A nice diving catch by junior Kate Beckemeyer (Forsyth, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth [Parkland]) in right field ended the bottom of the second.
• A three-run homer pushed Notre Dame’s lead to 6-0 in the third. The Fighting Irish had a runner on first with one out later in the frame when second baseman Addi Burke (Mesquite, Texas/John Horn) came up with a highlight-reel play, ranging to her right on a grounder up the middle and using her glove to flip it to shortstop Jaina Westphal (Waterford, Wis./Burlington) for a force out.
• Junior Peyton Moeder (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley) drew a one-out walk in the top of the fifth. After a fielder’s choice groundout, Westphal stole second base for Valpo’s first runner in scoring position on the day before a grounder ended the frame.
• Notre Dame scored one in its half of the fifth. Burke drew a two-out walk and was stranded at first in the sixth, and the Irish scored their final run in the bottom half of the sixth to close out the game.

Inside the Game

• Westphal’s stolen base was her first of the season.
• Valpo was playing Notre Dame for the first time since 2016.
• Sophomore Easton Seib (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South) threw the first two-plus innings Wednesday. Freshman Caitlin Kowalski (Temperance, Mich./Notre Dame Academy) tossed three innings and freshman Madison Wathen (Floyds Knobs, Ind./Floyd Central) took the circle for the sixth inning.

Next Up

Valpo (5-12) returns to Valley play this weekend with a three-game series at Evansville. The series starts with a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at noon.