April 18, 2000
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Just one run separated the winners from the losers in a non-conference doubleheader between 18th-ranked Notre Dame and Indiana State Tuesday in softball action at Ivy Field. The Irish, who moved to 35-12 overall, won the first game 2-1, but then fell to the Sycamores (17-25) in the second game, 3-2.
In the first game, the Irish tandem of sophomore Jennifer Kriech (Indianapolis, Ind.) and junior Jennifer Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.) paired up to score the first two runs of the game with Kriech posting back-to-back triples and then coming home on RBI singles by Sharron in the first and third innings.
The Sycamores closed the gap to one run in the sixth inning when Mandy Martin scored on a bases-loaded ground out to second base by pinch hitter Kate Gilner. In the top of the seventh, Indiana State had a runner in scoring position at second base with two outs, but Irish second baseman freshman Alexis Madrid (Temecula, Calif.) made a diving catch of a short pop up by designated player Jennifer Calandrilla to end the threat and the game at 2-1.
Sharron posted a gutsy performance on the mound, grabbing her 19th win of the season and striking out 10, despite being hit in the back of the head with a ball in the fourth inning. Martin took the loss for Indiana State, dropping to 7-10 overall.
The Sycamores grabbed back the momentum in game two, scoring three runs on three hits all with two outs in the top of the third inning. Indiana State pitcher Kathy Yamashiro kept the Irish guessing on offense, allowing no runs on just one hit by sophomore Jarrah Myers (Carbondale, Kan.) through the first six innings.
Finally in the seventh, Notre Dame freshman Andrea Loman (Riverside, Calif.) got the team’s second hit of the game with one out. Junior Lizzy Lemire (Irvine, Calif.) kept the Irish from being shutout for the first time this season, hitting her second home run of the year on Yamashiro’s first pitch, to pull the Irish to within one at, 3-2. Indiana State regained its composure, however, as Myers grounded out to third base to end the game.
The Irish face non-conference foe Oakland in a single game Thursday beginning at 4 p.m. at Ivy Field. Notre Dame then travels to BIG EAST Conference opponent Pittsburgh for a doubleheader, Saturday, April 22.