Houlihan’s Heroics: Freshman Homer Lifts Notre Dame Past Valparaiso in Tight Contest

In a Wednesday evening clash at Melissa Cook Stadium, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish softball team emerged victorious over the Valparaiso Beacons in a tightly contested 1-0 affair. The decisive moment arrived in the bottom of the sixth inning when freshman second baseman Avery Houlihan stepped up to the plate and delivered a towering solo home run over the right-center field fence. This marked Houlihan’s first career homer, and it couldn’t have come at a more crucial time, propelling the Irish to their third consecutive win and improving their season record to 23-26-1.

The game was a pitcher’s duel for the majority of the contest, with both teams squandering numerous scoring opportunities. Valparaiso’s pitching duo of Azalya Lopez and Erin Metz kept the Fighting Irish offense largely at bay, limiting them to just five hits. Lopez started the game and navigated through early threats, including a bases-loaded situation in the first inning. Metz came in relief in the fourth and also managed to keep Notre Dame off the scoreboard until Houlihan’s pivotal swing.

On the other side, Notre Dame’s pitching staff, comprised of Shannon Becker and Brianne Weiss, was equally impressive. Becker started the game and pitched four strong innings, allowing three hits and striking out three. Weiss took over in the fifth and earned the win, pitching three scoreless innings and striking out two. Notably, Weiss faced a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the sixth but managed to escape unscathed, setting the stage for Houlihan’s heroics in the bottom half of the inning. This performance marked the seventh shutout of the season for the Irish pitching staff.

Despite the close score, the game was far from uneventful. Both teams had ample opportunities to score but struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Valparaiso outhit Notre Dame 8-5, marking the first time they had outhit the Irish since 2010. However, the Beacons left a staggering 12 runners on base, their second-highest total in a seven-inning game this season. Notre Dame also stranded ten runners.

Valparaiso had runners in scoring position in the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings but failed to bring them home. In the top of the sixth, they loaded the bases with no outs, threatening to break the scoreless tie, but Weiss managed to shut down the rally with a strikeout, a force out at home, and a foul out.

For Notre Dame, their breakthrough finally came in the bottom of the sixth. With the count at 2-2, Houlihan connected with a pitch and sent it soaring over the right-center field fence for a solo home run, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. This was the first home run of Houlihan’s collegiate career, making her the sixth Notre Dame player to hit their first career homer this season and the 11th different player to leave the yard for the Irish in 2025. Notably, three of those home runs have been hit by freshmen (Houlihan, Kaia Cortes, and Rebecca Eckart), indicating a bright future for the Notre Dame program.

Valparaiso attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, with Kayden Krug hitting a two-out single. However, Weiss induced a groundout to end the game, securing the 1-0 victory for the Fighting Irish.

The win marked Notre Dame’s third in a row as they continued their homestand. They were set to host North Carolina for their final ACC series of the season, with Saturday’s game designated as Senior Day to honor Rachel Allen, Shannon Becker, Anna Holloway, Jane Kronenberger, Alexis Laudenslager, and Emily Tran. Following the series against the Tar Heels, the Irish were scheduled to welcome fifth-ranked Oregon to South Bend for a rare Monday matchup.

For Valparaiso, the 1-0 loss was their closest game against Notre Dame since a walk-off defeat in 2010. It was also their first 1-0 loss since 2019, having won six consecutive games decided by that score in the interim. Despite the loss, the Beacons showcased a strong pitching performance and had numerous opportunities to score, indicating their competitiveness.

The game highlighted the unpredictable nature of softball, where a single swing of the bat can change the entire complexion of a tight contest. Avery Houlihan’s first career home run proved to be the difference-maker, securing a crucial victory for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as they continued their late-season push.