The 13th-ranked Wildcats beat unranked Notre Dame 5-0 on a sunny but windy Tuesday afternoon at Drysdale Field. While this was a non-conference game, Notre Dame is a local rival and usually ends up in NU’s region for the national tournament (it has for the past three seasons). The Irish are fourth in the Big East while the 24-10 (9-1) ‘Cats are second in the Big Ten.

Player of the game: Lauren Delaney. The sophomore pitcher got into a jam in the second inning before retiring 17 straight batters (though one reached based on a dropped third strike) to end the game with her second one-hitter in her last three outings. Delaney struck out 13 Irish, including Notre Dame star Katie Laing three times. Despite pitching in every game over the weekend, Delaney showed no signs of fatigue while collecting her 22nd win of the season.

Best pre-game decision: Coach Kate Drohan inserted sophomore reserve Emily Haug into the starting lineup at designated player to replace injured senior Darcy Sengewald. Haug only had 14 at-bats on the year heading into the game; some would have expected Jessica Rigas to substitute. But Haug made the most of her start with a two-run double to deep left-center, capping a five-run fourth inning.

Most bizarre sequence: The game was delayed twice within the first four pitches of the game, for a good five minutes. The first pitch from Delaney to Notre Dame’s Katie Fleury looked to be a normal ball. But Fleury thought she was hit, leading to an argument between the umpire and the Irish coach. Two pitches later in the inning, when Sarah Smith was up, she was called out for bunting a pitch foul with two strikes. She argued, however, that it was a ‘slap-hit,’ a strategy many softball players use to make up for the short baselines and fast pitching. The umpire then changed his call to a foul ball, leading to Drohan talking with him again. Smith struck out on the next pitch anyway, and the rest of the game went smoothly.

Best and strangest defensive play: In the top of the second inning, the one time Delaney was in a jam, the Irish had runners on second and third with two outs in a scoreless tie. Delaney threw a pitch that got past catcher Erin Dyer, and Notre Dame’s Christine Lux attempted to score. As she slid in, Delaney missed the tag — but Lux missed the plate. The umpire made no call or motion or anything as the players hesitated for a second. Delaney then tagged Lux as she tried desperately to tag home plate, ending the inning and the only Notre Dame threat of the game.

Up next: The Cats return to Big Ten play with games against Indiana on Friday and Saturday, and a doubleheader against Purdue on Sunday.