Notre Dame Softball Heads to Syracuse for Final Road Trip

Irish look to solidify ACC Championship spot in final conference series

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:40pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a softball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, kelly green, and gold representing the dynamic action on the field.Notre Dame's young softball stars look to power the team to the ACC Championship in their final road trip of the regular season.South Bend Today

The University of Notre Dame softball team (17-26, 6-12 ACC) is heading to Syracuse for a three-game series against the Orange, their final road trip of the regular season. Notre Dame currently sits as the last team in for the ACC Softball Championship, but has a three-game advantage in the win column over their next two conference opponents, Syracuse and Boston College.

Why it matters

This series against Syracuse is a critical one for Notre Dame's chances of making the ACC Softball Championship next month. The Irish are looking to build on their 12 road wins this season, which account for over 70% of their total victories.

The details

The three-game series begins on Friday, April 17th at 3:00 p.m., followed by a Saturday game at 1:00 p.m. and the series finale on Sunday at noon. All games will be streamed on ACC Network Extra. Notre Dame holds a 31-11-1 all-time record against Syracuse, including a 12-6 mark on the road, but hasn't played in Syracuse since the 2022 season.

  • The three-game series against Syracuse begins on Friday, April 17th at 3:00 p.m.
  • The second game of the series is on Saturday, April 18th at 1:00 p.m.
  • The series finale is on Sunday, April 19th at 12:00 p.m.

The players

Ava Zachary

A standout freshman for Notre Dame, leading the team with a .404 batting average and 23 RBIs. In conference play, she is hitting .472 with a team-high 25 hits and 15 runs scored.

Lily Hagan

The freshman has been a power hitter for the Irish, leading the team with 6 home runs, 5 of which have come against ACC opponents.

Hayden Kyne

The freshman catcher/designated player has been a valuable bat for Notre Dame in conference play, hitting .333 with a team-high 21 RBIs.

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What’s next

The Irish will look to solidify their spot in the ACC Softball Championship with a strong showing against Syracuse. After this series, they will face Boston College in their final conference matchup of the regular season.

The takeaway

Notre Dame's young trio of freshmen - Ava Zachary, Lily Hagan, and Hayden Kyne - have been key contributors this season, helping the team remain in contention for the ACC Championship. This final road trip will be a critical test as the Irish look to secure their postseason berth.