Notre Dame softball: Irish lock up Big East crown
Notre Dame's Laura Winter shut down a strong Louisville lineup Sunday at Melissa Cook Stadium, scattering six hits as the Irish (41-12, 19-3) locked up the Big East regular season crown.
No. 9-ranked Louisville is 45-10 and 18-4 in the league.
Notre Dame has won 14 league titles in 18 seasons as a conference member and clinch the No. 1 seed in next week’s league tournament.
Against the Cardinals, Winter had five strikeouts and no walks.
Notre Dame got two hits from Winter, Cassidy Whidden and Chloe Saganowich. Whidden had two RBIs and Winter one.
Katie Keller hit a solo shot for Louisville in the seventh.
Notre Dame will begin play at the league tournament May 9 in Tampa, Fla.
| Louisville | 000 | 000 | 1 — 1 6 1 |
| Notre Dame | 100 | 020 | x - 3 9 0 |
Laura Winter (W, 27-9), Rachel LeCoq (L, 20-6)
2B: Hannah Kiyohara (L), Cassidy Whidden (ND)
HR: Katie Keller (L)