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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (theACC.com) – Notre Dame rallied from an early deficit to cruise past Duke, 9-2, in Thursday’s fourth ACC Softball Championship quarterfinal.
 
Rachel Abboud’s groundout got things started in the top of the first inning for No. 6 seed Duke (25-31), driving home Marissa Gagliano to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead over No. 3 seed Notre Dame (36-15).
 
In the top of the second, Caroline Jacobsen doubled to right field, and then was immediately knocked in by a Dominique Salinas double to left, extending Duke’s lead to 2-0.
 
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, Notre Dame’s Sarah Genz doubled to left field, plating two runs and tying the score at 2-2.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Fighting Irish had runners on second and third before Abby Sweet sent them home with a double to left field and gave Notre Dame a 4-2 lead.
 
The sixth inning would belong to the Irish after they racked up five runs. Katie Marino singled to center, driving in two runs. A fielder’s choice by Melissa Rochford knocked in Marino, and a fielding error and a wild pitch scored two more runners to bring the final score to 9-2.
 
Payton Tidd was credited with the win for the Irish, striking out six and allowing two hits and two earned runs in six innings.
 
Notre Dame will play No. 2 seed Florida State in Friday’s 3:30 p.m. semifinal.