Junior Brittany O'Donnell

Irish Blast Bats For Sweep Over Rockets

March 28, 2012

Game 1: Box Score | Box Score Get Acrobat Reader
Game 2: Box Score | Box Score Get Acrobat Reader
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NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Amy Buntin picked up right where she left off after Tuesday’s comeback win over Western Michigan by going 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Wednesday evening’s non-conference doubleheader against Toledo. After blasting a three-run, walk-off homer to put the finishing touches on a five-run inning in the seventh inning for Notre Dame against the Broncos one day prior, Buntin’s effort against Toledo included a solo home run in her first at-bat as Notre Dame totaled 20 hits in the twinbill.

The Irish grabbed the game one victory over the Rockets in five innings, 9-1, and took the nightcap at Melissa Cook Stadium in six frames, 8-0.

With the victories, Notre Dame improved to 14-10 while Toledo fell to 7-19. The Irish carry their three-game winning streak into the weekend’s three-game BIG EAST Conference series with Connecticut, with the first of Saturday’s two games set to begin at noon (ET). Live coverage including video, audio and stats will be available at UND.com.

-Game 1-

Buntin smacked her fifth home run of the season to start the Irish scoring in the first frame and also knocked in two more runs in the third with a single.

Emilee Koerner got in on the action for Notre Dame when she doubled home two runs in the third, part of a four-run inning to help put the game out of reach.

However, the Irish were not done as they would add three more runs in the fourth. Cassidy Whidden and Dani Miller each drove in a run while Alexa Maldonado came around to score on a throwing error by Toledo catcher Morgan Smith during her attempt to gun down Kelsey Thornton’s attempt to steal second.

In the fifth, Jenna Simon ended the game early for Notre Dame when she doubled to score Jackie Bowe.

Notre Dame hurler Laura Winter (8-6) threw 4.0 innings and fanned five while allowing one walk. Winter gave up just two base hits.

Toledo starter Casi Rohr (3-9) tossed 2.2 innings and allowed five runs on four hits. Rohr walked three and did not strike out an Irish batter.

-Game 2-

It was a pitcher’s duel early in the second game until Notre Dame scratched across a run in the third on a Miller sacrifice fly.

Brittany O’Donnell stymied the Toledo bats pitching a complete-game, one-hit shutout in 6.0 innings. O’Donnell, who improved her record to 6-4, also fanned five and walked one.

The Irish offense plated another run in fourth when Katey Haus homered deep to right field, her third of the season and one of 12 Irish hits in the contest.

Notre Dame though would put the game away in the sixth when it scored six times as Maldonado and Koerner each knocked in two runs apiece.

–ND–