Notre Dame Softball Loses Tight Game at Syracuse

Irish drop series finale 3-2 after winning first two games

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:09pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a softball game broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, conveying the emotional intensity and fractured moments of a close, high-stakes matchup.Notre Dame's heartbreaking loss to Syracuse exposes the complex, fragmented nature of a close softball game.Syracuse Today

The University of Notre Dame softball team fell 3-2 to Syracuse in the final game of their weekend series, despite a solo home run from Hayden Kyne that gave the Irish a two-run lead in the fourth inning. Notre Dame pitching struck out seven Syracuse batters, but the Orange rallied late to win the series finale.

Why it matters

This loss drops Notre Dame's overall record to 19-27 and their ACC conference record to 8-13. The Irish will look to bounce back as they return home for a seven-game homestand to end the regular season.

The details

Hayden Kyne hit her fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning to give Notre Dame a 2-0 lead. Irish pitchers Micaela Kastor and Kami Kamzik combined for seven strikeouts, but Syracuse scored three unanswered runs to win the game 3-2.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
  • Notre Dame won the first two games of the series before dropping the finale.

The players

Hayden Kyne

A Notre Dame softball player who hit a solo home run in the game, her fourth of the season.

Micaela Kastor

The Notre Dame starting pitcher who struck out five batters in over five innings of work.

Kami Kamzik

A Notre Dame relief pitcher who struck out two batters in one inning of work.

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What they’re saying

“We're disappointed with the result, but we'll regroup and get ready for our homestand to finish the season strong.”

— Mik Aoki, Notre Dame Softball Head Coach

What’s next

Notre Dame will return to Melissa Cook Stadium for a seven-game homestand to end the regular season, starting on Tuesday, April 21st with a matchup against Central Michigan.

The takeaway

Despite the tough loss, Notre Dame has a chance to finish the season on a high note with a strong homestand. The team will look to bounce back and secure more wins as they prepare for postseason play.