May 7, 2007
PROVIDENCE, R.I.- Notre Dame’s softball team (29-21, 13-7 BIG EAST), after the final weekend of regular season action, had a pair of players named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, the conference office announced this afternoon, May 7.
Sophomore pitcher Brittney Bargar (Corona, Calif./Corona) (20-12) continued her great season by winning four more games, including three wins in BIG EAST Conference play. Bargar started her week by throwing her second no-hitter of the season in a complete game effort over Loyola- Chicago on May 1. The lone blemish on Bargar for the afternoon was a hit batter in the first inning. She also tallied 10 strikeouts against the Ramblers. Bargar continued her strong week in picking up the 5-2 win over conference rival Rutgers on May 5. The righty went the distance allowing two runs with seven strikeouts. Bargar then topped herself as she started and got the wins in both games against Villanova on May 6. In the first game against the Wildcats, she went the first five innings and only surrendered three hits with six strikeouts. She then, as the Irish were still fighting for potential seeding at the BIG EAST Tournament, took the ball against Villanova again in the second game. In the second game, she threw her 23rd complete game of the season with two runs allowed and five strikeouts. The win was also the 20th of the season for the sophomore. For the week, Bargar was 4-0 with 28 strikeouts, a 1.08 ERA in 26 innings pitched.
Senior centerfielder Stephanie Brown (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) spearheaded the offensive attack and was a large reason the Irish went 5-0 and built momentum heading to BIG EAST Tournament play. Brown began her week by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases in the Irish 5-0 win over Loyola-Chicago. In the doubleheader sweep of Rutgers, Brown was had three hits and drove in three runs. She completed her week with three hits, three walks and a run scored in the two wins against Villanova. For the week, Brown was 9-for-18 with three runs scored, three runs-batted-in and two stolen bases. She also had an on-base percentage of .571 and a slugging percentage of .556. Further, the senior tied the Notre Dame career record for runs scored with her run against Villanova. The run was the 164th run of her career, which is tied with former Notre Dame star Andrea Loman (2000-03)
Marcy Wilus of DePaul was named the league’s Player of the Week, while teammate Becca Heteniak was honored as the conference’s Pitcher of the Week.
Joining Bargar and Brown on the Honor Roll were Megan Bostick (Pittsburgh), Courtney Moore (Louisville) and Kristen Wadwell (Louisville).
Notre Dame returns home to host the BIG EAST Conference Championships from May 10-12 at the Belleville Softball Complex. The Irish, who earned the fourth seed, will start their tournament play with a game against No. 5 seed Connecticut (22-20, 10-9 BIG EAST) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 10.