April 30, 2000

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The 19th-ranked Notre Dame softball team claimed its fifth straight BIG EAST regular season title and the top seed at next weekend’s conference tournament by beating host Seton Hall twice Sunday in South Orange, N.J. The Irish, who moved to 43-12 overall and 12-2 in the BIG EAST, won game one 6-2 and then game two 5-1.

“Offensively, we really hit the ball well in all of our games this weekend,” Irish head coach Liz Miller said. “Our pitchers both did really well and our offense was solid from the top of our order to the bottom.”

In the first game, the Irish got two home runs from sophomore catcher Jarrah Myers (Carbondale, Kan.). Myers hit a two-run shot in the first inning to drive in the what turned out to be the winning run of the game. Myers struck again in the top of the fourth inning, with a lead-off home run to right-center field, tying the school record for most home runs in a game and tying teammate Melanie Alkire (Union City, Calif.) for the team-lead with 10 in 2000, also tying the single-season school record.

Notre Dame pitcher Jennifer Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.) earned her 23rd win of the season to move to 23-6 overall, striking out 11 Seton Hall batters and allowing just three hits. Pirate ace Misty Beaver took the loss to drop to 12-7.

“We scored the first four runs of the game all in the first inning and really set them back on their heels,” Miller said.

In the second game, the Irish scored two runs in the second and in the fourth and then tagged one run onto their lead in the top of the seventh to take a 5-0 lead into Seton Hall’s last at-bat.

Notre Dame pitcher Michele Moschel (Naples, Fla.) carried a no hitter into the bottom of seventh inning, but Seton Hall’s lead-off batter Amy Lynn Mellin led-off the inning with a solo home run to break up the no-hitter and the shutout. Moschel, however, settled down and recorded the last out herself by striking out designated player Tammy Timko.

Notre Dame, the top seed, will next face fourth seed Boston College in the first game of the BIG EAST championships, Friday, May 5, in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Other teams in this year’s conference tournament include second seeded Connecticut and third seed Villanova.

BIG EAST Championships – May 5-7
At Boston College (Chestnut Hills, Mass.)

Teams: #1 Notre Dame, #2 Connecticut, #3 Villanova, #4 Boston College

May 5
Game 1: #1 Notre Dame vs. #4 Boston College – 11:00 a.m.
Game 2: #2 Connecticut vs. #3 Villanova – 1:30 p.m.