Feb. 23, 2008
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Freshman Jody Valdivia and junior Brittney Bargar combined to pitch 13.0 innings without surrendering an earned run for the University of Notre Dame softball team during day two of Florida’s Aquafina Invitational on Saturday.
Valdivia (1-2) picked up her first career win in an Irish uniform by going 7.0 innings against North Florida (8-7), giving up only one hit while fanning seven batters. She issued one walk while facing 23 batters as Notre Dame claimed the 1-0 win.
After holding No. 7 Florida (17-0) scoreless through five frames, Bargar (3-2) let a trio of unearned runs cross the plate in the sixth despite giving up only five hits and two walks in the contest. Notre Dame held a 2-0 lead over the Gators until that three-run sixth gave Florida its come-from-behind win.
Saturday’s split at Katie Pressly Stadium put Notre Dame in the tournament’s final game where they will face Florida at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.
Notre Dame (4-4) began its game against the Gators with Sadie Pitzenberger reaching base after getting hit by a Stacey Nelson (9-0) pitch. Pitzenberger advanced to third on a Gator throwing error, and would score when Katie Laing grounded out to short with one out. That score snapped Nelson’s 40.0 inning scoreless streak which dated back to a Feb. 10 game against South Florida.
Sitting on its 1-0 lead, the Irish tacked on another score in the top of the third. Sarah Smith singled to begin the frame and was forced out on a Pitzenberger fielder’s choice. After Katie Fleury flied out, Laing shot a double to center that plated Pitzenberger for the second time on the day.
Three runs on three hits and one Irish error gave Florida its lead in the bottom of the sixth.
The Irish totaled five hits against UNF’s Devyn Findley (5-4), with two of those coming off the bat of Linda Kohan who finished the night a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish. The junior also registered the team’s lone RBI, a fourth-inning single that plated Sarah Smith.
Heather Johnson and Erin Marrone each recorded doubles for Notre Dame, who managed the win despite stranding nine runners on base.
–ND–