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Oct. 16, 2006
The Notre Dame softball team won all four games this weekend at Ivy Field, hosting the Irish Worth Fall Softball Classic. The Irish defeated Michigan, Nebraska, Western Michigan, and Illinois-Chicago to pick up the sweep on the weekend.
Notre Dame posted the only winning record in the field, with Michigan and Nebraska each splitting with two wins and two losses, the Broncos of Western Michigan going 1-3, and UIC losing all four games.
The pitching combination of sophomore Brittney Bargar and senior Kenya Fuemmeler powered the Irish. Bargar picked up two wins, going the distance in each start, giving up only eight hits in 12 innings while striking out nine. Fuemmeler was just as impressive in her two starts, both wins, giving up only six hits in 12 innings, also striking out nine. Sophomore Christine Farrell threw one inning, picking up one strikeout to round out the Irish pitching staff for the weekend.
The Irish offense also did its part in the wins. Senior Stephanie Brown and junior Katie Laing paved the way. Brown went 7-14 (.500) at the plate on the weekend, with six runs scored, three runs batted in, a home run and a double. Laing was just as important to the Irish, going 8-11 (.727), with 8 RBI, 5 runs scored, two doubles, a triple, and a home run. Linda Kohan also homered on the weekend while knocking in five runs.
Notre Dame 3, Michigan 1
Even in an exhibition game, you can always count on a Notre Dame vs. Michigan game to be exciting and the weekend opener delivered with all the drama of a regular season match-up.
The Irish got on the board early, scoring in the bottom of the first. After Brown struck out to start the inning, senior first baseman Carissa Jaquish singled through the right side and Laing tripled her home to give the Irish the early 1-0 lead.
Strong pitching from both Bargar and the Wolverine combination of Lorilyn Wilson and Nicole Nemitz would keep the score 1-0 until until the top of the sixth.
A lead-off double by Michigan centerfielder Alessandra Giampaolo got the rally started. The Wolverines played small-ball to get the run home. Angela Findlay laid down a bunt to first to sacrifice Giampaolo to third and Angie Davis picked up the RBI on a groundout to second, to tie the game at 1-1. Michigan threatened again in the top of the seventh, but Bargar shut the door stranding two Wolverines on base.
In the home half of the seventh, the Irish got to Michigan pitcher Stacy Delaney. Heather Johnson led off the inning with a single. With Brittany Glynn pinch running, Bargar popped-up a sacrifice bunt attempt to the pitcher and Ashley Ellis failed to lay the bunt down as well, popping up to third. That set the stage for Stephanie Brown to be the hero. Brown drove a pitch to straight-away centerfield and the ball carried just over the fence, giving the Irish a 3-1 win.
WP-Bargar (1-0) 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
LP-Delaney (0-1) 1.2+ IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER
Notre Dame 2, Nebraska 1 (8 Inn.)
Game two of the Irish Worth Fall Softball Classic was just as exciting as the first. The Irish returned early Saturday morning to take on the Huskers of Nebraska. Senior Kenya Fuemmeler would go the distance, giving up only three hits and one earned run in eight innings.
In a role-reversal from game one, the Irish gave up a run early and had to score late to tie it up. In the top of the first, a lead-off single by Devin Porter and a groundout by Meghan Mullin put a runner on second for Brittany Pascale. The Husker designated player drove a pitch over the head of Brown in centerfield to score Porter and give Nebraska the early 1-0 lead.
The Husker lead would hold up until the bottom of the sixth. Despite two strikeouts, by Brown and Jaquish to start the inning, the Irish managed to rally. With two outs, a Laing single, followed by a Johnson walk brought Linda Kohan to the plate. Kohan drove the ball over the head of Nebraska leftfielder Haley Long to score Laing and tie the game at one run each. After a scoreless seventh, the Irish and Huskers were headed to extra innings.
The international tie-breaker rule was in effect for the tournament, meaning the player who made the last out the previous inning would start the extra frame on second base. Fuemmeler responded to the extra pressure, getting a sacrifice bunt, a pop up to the third baseman Johnson, and a ground out to Kohan at second to send it to the bottom of the eighth still tied.
Leftfielder Beth Northway would start the inning on second for the Irish. Brown beat out a bunt to the pitcher to send Norway to third, bringing up Jaquish, who pounded a pitch into left field to score Northway and give the Irish their second straight dramatic win.
WP-Fuemmeler (1-0) 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 K
LP-Hill (0-1) 7+ IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Notre Dame 10, Western Michigan 2 (5 Inn.)
After playing two close games, the Irish offense exploded to defeat the Broncos in five innings. Laing was the big star, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Kohan also picked up two RBI. The abundance of runs made no difference for Bargar, who gave up just two runs on four hits in five innings.
The big inning for the Irish was the second, scoring five runs in the frame and knocking out Bronco starter Brittney Reist. Erin Glasco, Stephanie Mola, Laing, and Kohan all recorded hits in the inning, with the big blows being two-run singles from Laing and Kohan. The Irish added two in the fourth and two in the fifth to end the game after five innings.
WP-Bargar (2-0) 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
LP- Reist (0-1) 1.2+ IP, 5 H, 6 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Notre Dame 10, UIC 2 (5 Inn.)
The Irish Worth Fall Softball Classic came to a close with a sibling rivalry to keep things interesting.
Notre Dame’s Kenya Fuemmeler started for the Irish while her sister, Chelsea, started for the Flames of UIC. Kenya got the better of the match up, picking up the win giving up two runs on three hits in four innings. Chelsea was handed the loss giving up seven runs, all earned, on nine hits in 2.2 innings.
The Irish offense scored in every inning and was led by Laing. The junior was 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and five RBI, knocking in half of Notre Dame’s runs. The game ended in the bottom of the fifth, when, following a Laing single, Kohan drove a pitch from UIC’s Sarah Clynes over the leftfield fence to give the Irish an eight run lead and the victory.
WP-Kenya Fuemmeler (2-0) 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
LP-Chelsea Fuemmeler (1-2) 2.2+ IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
2006 Irish Worth Fall Softball Classic
Friday, October 13
Notre Dame 3, Michigan 1
Saturday, October 14
Notre Dame 2, Nebraska 1 (8 Inn.)
UIC 5, Nebraska 3
Michigan 7, UIC 6
Michigan 1, Western Michigan 0
Notre Dame 10, Western Michigan 2 (5 Inn.)
Sunday, October 15
Nebraska 3, Michigan 0
Nebraska 1, Western Michigan 0
Western Michigan 6, UIC 2
Notre Dame 10, UIC 2 (5 Inn.)