Notre Dame, the top-ranked team in the NJ.com Top 20, built a commanding lead before holding on for a 9-8 victory over Jackson Memorial in a back-and-forth softball battle. Senior Emma Marchese and sophomore Jenna Cocuzza were the offensive stars for Notre Dame, each hitting home runs to power the win. Marchese went 3-for-4 with a double, her first home run of the season, and drove in four runs. Cocuzza added two hits, including her first high school homer, and had two RBIs. Notre Dame’s victory improves their record to 8-1 on the season.
Marchese’s home run came in the first inning, giving Notre Dame an early 3-0 lead. Cocuzza followed with a solo shot in the third inning, extending the lead to 4-0. Jackson Memorial fought back, scoring two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the deficit to 6-4. However, Notre Dame responded with three more runs in the sixth inning, including a two-run double by Marchese, to build a 9-4 lead.
Jackson Memorial refused to go down without a fight, scoring two runs in the sixth and seventh innings to bring the score to 9-8. But Notre Dame’s defense held strong in the seventh inning, securing the hard-fought victory.
Dominique Lopez led the way for Jackson Memorial, going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run of her own. The loss drops Jackson Memorial’s record to 6-6 on the season.
