April 6, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The University of Notre Dame softball team arrived, Notre Dame hit, and the Irish returned to campus with a perfect 4-0 mark last week following a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sweep of No. RV Pittsburgh. In a week where the entire Notre Dame roster batted a cumulative .424 with 50 hits and 40 runs, conventional wisdom would make it difficult to single out an individual player from such a solid team offensive effort.
As a vital contributor to that success, senior infielder Katey Haus did what she has done throughout her final season on the diamond, rise to the top. In recognition of her efforts at the plate and solid play on the hot corner at third base, the ACC selected Haus as a co-ACC Player of the Week alongside North Carolina State’s Renada Davis on Monday, Haus’ second conference weekly honor this season. Haus was named the very first 2015 ACC Player of the Week on Feb. 9.
Haus continued her All-America caliber season with another stellar stand at the plate during Notre Dame’s undefeated week. She batted an even .500 (7-for-14) with two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and six runs scored in 16 total plate appearances against Eastern Michigan and at No. RV Pittsburgh. The Irish third baseman slugged a team-high 1.286 for the week and added a .563 on-base percentage to power the Notre Dame attack.
Haus opened the week with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate against Eastern Michigan, clubbing a two-run double, adding an additional RBI single, drawing a walk and scoring one run in Notre Dame’s 10-2 rout of the Eagles in six innings.
The Oceanside, California native kept the momentum rolling into the first game of the weekend against No. RV Pittsburgh, drilling a pair of home runs and tying the Panthers overall run total with five RBI in a 13-5 game one win. Haus then reached base in three of her four plate appearances of Friday’s nightcap, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning for her third home run of the series. She would also chip in a double and another run scored in a 14-0 Notre Dame victory in five innings.
Haus reached by way of a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning of Saturday’s series finale against Pittsburgh, ultimately scoring the tying run before Notre Dame rallied to sweep the Panthers 3-2.
Haus leads all Notre Dame players with 11 home runs, 38 RBI, 86 total bases and a .741 slugging percentage through 38 starts this season. She has added the second-best batting average (.388) and on-base percentage (.455) and the second-most runs (29), hits (45), doubles (8) and walks (14) on the Notre Dame roster.
Notre Dame hosts Western Michigan on Tuesday at 5 p.m. (ET) and Butler Wednesday at 6 p.m. in nonconference midweek action at Melissa Cook Stadium. The Irish are scheduled to travel to Boston College this weekend for a three-game ACC set.
For the latest news and updates on all things Notre Dame softball, visit www.und.com/softball, follow the Irish @NDsoftball and @NDcoachGumpf on Twitter and at Instagram.com/notredamesoftball, and Like the team at Facebook.com/NDSoftball.
2015 Notre Dame Softball Weekly Honorees
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Week
Katey Haus — April 6 (Co)
Katey Haus — Feb. 9
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Pitcher of the Week
Rachel Nasland — March 30
Rachel Nasland — March 23
Rachel Nasland — March 16
Rachel Nasland — Feb. 24
–ND–