March 15, 2008
CHARLESTON, S.C. – A ten-run third inning gave the University of Notre Dame softball team a 10-2 win in five innings over host Charleston Southern on Saturday to wrap up the Lowcountry Collegiate Softball Invitational at the Charleston Southern Softball Field.
The Buccaneers (11-21) took a brief 2-0 lead in the top of the third before the Irish (14-9) pounded out nine hits to post the double-figure total. Sadie Pitzenberger scored twice in the inning while knocking a triple and one single, with classmate Katie Fleury pouring on a pair of hits herself. In fact, the Irish registered five consecutive hits at one point during the frame.
Pitcher Brittney Barger (11-5) held the Buccaneer bats to only one earned run on four hits while fanning six batters.
Bargar started the three-game day for the Irish with a 5-0 shutout win over Campbell (20-8). She struck out four Camels and scattered five hits in 7.0 innings of action. On the flipside, Notre Dame stuck Lauren Stephan (9-6) for 10 hits, all of which were one-baggers. Linda Kohan, Sarah Smith, and Ashley Ellis each had two hits apiece in that contest. Kohan and Ellis both scored two runs, and Smith had two RBI for game-high honors.
The Irish defense held strong for Bargar by leaving two Camels on base in both the first and third innings while in scoring position. Campbell left a total of seven ducks on the pond in the game.
Notre Dame stumbled against Towson (11-11) by a 6-2 count in its second game of the day. Trailing 1-0 through four frames, Towson posted a six-spot in the top of the fifth that was headlined by Nina Navarro’s base-clearing double. The Tigers’ rally was aided by a pair of Irish errors in the stanza.
Both Pitzenberger and Smith had two hits with Fleury adding an RBI and her third double of the season.
Jody Valdivia (3-4) went the distance for the Irish and struck out eight Tigers despite leaving without the win.
Notre Dame travels to Western Michigan for a March 18 doubleheader against the Broncos. First pitch leaves the circle at 3:30 p.m. (ET).