March 22, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team travels to South Orange, N.J. for a three-game BIG EAST series this weekend against Seton Hall at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field.
Notre Dame (19-7), winners of 15 of its last 17 games, and Seton Hall (10-11) will play a doubleheader Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for noon. The series concludes Sunday, with the third and final game slated for a noon start.
The Irish are 35-9 all-time against the Pirates, including an impressive 33-4 in BIG EAST regular season play since 1996.
Notre Dame has won its last 11 games against Seton Hall, with a whopping 97-10 run differential during the streak. The Irish have not lost at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field since dropping a 4-3 decision May 6, 2006.
Fans can follow live stats for all games via CBS GameTracker by visiting UND.com.
For updates throughout the weekend, follow the Irish on Twitter @NDsoftball and @NDcoachGumpf.
Notre Dame at Seton Hall
March 23-24
South Orange, N.J.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
(19-7 overall)
Seton Hall Pirates
(10-11 overall; ND leads all-time series 35-9)
Notre Dame Weekend Schedule
Notre Dame at Seton Hall – Saturday, noon (ET)
Notre Dame at Seton Hall – Saturday, 2 p.m. (ET)
Notre Dame at Seton Hall – Sunday, noon (ET)
IRISH SLAP HITS
– Notre Dame won five of its last six games during its spring break road swing, closing the three-tournament stretch 7-2.
– Notre Dame has won 15 of its last 17 games, outscoring opponents by a 103-29 margin during that span. The Irish also have a higher batting average (.338-.196), more hits (151-80), extra base hits (60-23), RBI (93-24), total bases (258-119), and a higher slugging percentage (.577-.292) and on-base percentage (.416-.234) since the East Carolina Pirate Invitational (Feb. 23).
– Katey Haus and Laura Winter became the first Irish players named to the same BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this season after each turned in strong performances at the Judi Garman Classic and the Highlander Classic at UC Riverside. Haus raised her overall batting average 61 points during her last six games, batting at a .474 clip with a home run, two doubles, nine RBI, a .737 slugging percentage, a .500 on-base percentage and three runs scored for the week. Winter continued her recent success in the circle, posting a 3-1 record with a 0.48 ERA in four appearances.
– Along with extending her team-high on-base streak to an impressive 26 games, Emilee Koerner entered the week tied for second place in individual batting average in the NCAA national statistics rankings. Koerner is currently hitting at a .500 clip, the highest average among all BIG EAST batters.
– Notre Dame has earned five victories by way of the eight-run mercy rule thus far in 2013, with four such contests being stopped after the required five full innings. In fact, the Irish are a perfect 10-0, with a cumulative run advantage of 95-43, when leading after five frames.
– A total of 44 doubles have been hit by 13 different Notre Dame batters, led by Emilee Koerner’s 11 two-baggers. The Irish have hit as many doubles as total extra base hits recorded by 2013 opponents (28 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs).
– Notre Dame has not lost its opening BIG EAST Conference series since the 1998 season.
Extra Base Emi
Emilee Koerner is tied for the active Notre Dame lead with senior captain Amy Buntin in career extra base hits (34) after playing less than one and a half seasons.
Koerner ranks first among all Irish players with 11 doubles and three triples, and is second in home runs with five this season. In fact, the sophomore outfielder’s 19 extra base hits are more than the number of total hits recorded by 11 different Notre Dame players with at least one at-bat in 2013.
Winter’s Winning Ways
Pitcher Laura Winter has hit her midseason stride during her past 11 appearances in the circle, winning nine of a possible 10 decisions during that span.
Winter has finished each of her last nine starts, throwing three shutouts. The junior right-hander has only allowed 12 earned runs in her last 70 innings pitched, walking five with 76 strikeouts.
Metrics Show Offensive Production
Hidden within Notre Dame’s .309 team batting average through its first 26 games is the squad’s efficiency in putting the softball back into play.
Using the batting average on balls in play formula (which excludes home runs and strikeouts), the Irish are hitting at a .336 clip, compared to a .276 average for opponents. Emilee Koerner leads all Notre Dame batters with a .507 BABIP.
No Brooms Needed On Week One
In its 17 full seasons competing in the BIG EAST Conference, Notre Dame has never been swept by its first league opponent. The Irish have not been swept in the season’s opening conference series since their inaugural campaign in 1989.
The Pirate Chronicles
Notre Dame is 35-9 all-time against Seton Hall, including an impressive 33-4 in BIG EAST regular season play since 1996.
The Irish have won their last 11 games against the Pirates, with a whopping 97-10 run differential during the streak. Notre Dame has not lost at Essex County Mike Sheppard, Sr. Field since dropping a 4-3 decision May 6, 2006.
Milestone Tracker
Notre Dame is approaching a pair of key win totals that, at the team’s current pace, will be achieved during the 2013 season.
The Irish are a mere four wins away from earning the 1,000th victory in program history. Notre Dame is 996-445-3 (.691) during its 25 years of existence.
Deanna Gumpf is also 16 wins away from becoming the first Irish softball head coach to record 500 career victories (484-199-1, .709).
Buntin For Senior CLASS
Captain Amy Buntin is one of 30 candidates for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award®. Eligible student-athletes must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
The award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The 10 award finalists will be announced at the halfway mark of the regular season, at which time fans will have the opportunity to cast their vote to determine the winner.
Visit Amy’s candidate page at http://www.seniorclassaward.com/athletes/amy_buntin/.
–ND–