Feb. 18, 2007
AUBURN, Ala – Notre Dame (2-3) dropped a 2-0 decision to Virginia Tech (7-2) on the final day of the Tiger Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 18 at Jane B. Moore Field in Auburn, Ala.
The Irish threatened in the second inning. Sophomore Linda Kohan (Westminster, Calif./Westminster) drove one-out single through the left side. She took second on a wild pitch. A walk to junior Erin Glasco (Johnston City, Ill./Johnston City) put runners on first and second, but Virginia Tech starter Angela Tincher struck out the next two to get out of a sticky situation.
The Hokies broke through for a run in the third inning. Jenna Rhodes hit a lead-off single. She took second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on a ground out. Rhodes would scamper home with the first run of the game on the fielding error by the Notre Dame third baseman.
Tech added another run to its lead in the fourth. Jessica Everhart doubled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Everhart came in to score the second run of the game on Caroline Stolle’s double.
The Irish attempted to rally in the fifth inning. Senior Gessica Hufnagle (Middlebury, Ind./Northridge) was hit-by-a-pitch with one out. Sophomore Beth Northway (Kentwood, Mich./Kentwood) and Stephanie Brown (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) both walked to load the bases with two outs. But once again, Tincher was up to the challenge and retired the next batter on a ground out to get out of the inning.
The Irish starter Brittney Bargar ( Corona, Calif./Corona) did an effective job of keeping Notre Dame in the game, only allowing two runs on nine hits with two runs allowed (one earned) and eight strikeouts.
Tincher for Virginia Tech had a great outing going the distance with 15 strikeouts.
Heather Johnson was named to the Tiger Invitational All-Tournament team upon completion of the tournament.
Notre Dame will next travel to Palm Springs, Calif. to play in the Palm Springs Tournament. The Irish will take on Oklahoma (Feb. 23), California (Feb. 23), UNLV (Feb. 24), Cal State Fullerton (Feb. 24) and Ole Miss (Feb. 25).
Irish Notes: This is only the second time Notre Dame has fallen to Virginia Tech in 12 meetings.