May 1, 2011
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NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Seniors Jody Valdivia and Shannon Kelly combined for a five-inning no-hitter as No. 22 Notre Dame blanked visiting St. John’s, 14-0, to sweep a three-game BIG EAST Conference softball series. Valdivia (9-4) gave the reigns to Kelly in the top of the fifth for the team’s second no-hitter this week. Notre Dame (38-8 overall, 14-1 BIG EAST) received a no-hitter from Laura Winter earlier this week at USF.
Valdivia was near perfect in 4.0 hitless innings Sunday at Melissa Cook Stadium on Senior Day, striking out three with two walks. She even helped her cause with an RBI in her first career at-bat.
Notre Dame started each of its eight seniors to begin the game.
The Irish scored first their four runs without recording a hit, aided by sacrifice flies from Dani Miller and Sadie Pitzenberger.
Brianna Jorgensborg scored an unearned run on a St. John’s (19-30, 6-12) error and Monica Torres crossed on a passed ball.
The bats warmed up in a six-run third inning for Notre Dame when the first hit by either team came on Jorgensborg’s RBI double. One batter later, Erin Marrone cleaned up the bases by driving in two runs with a double to left-center. Another double came from Alexa Maldonado to make the score 8-0.
Notre Dame loaded the bases in the fourth and went on score six runs. Marrone tacked on a two-RBI single as Maldonado and Alexia Clay added doubles in the six-hit frame.
Jorgensborg scored three times for Notre Dame as Marrone led all players with four RBI.
Seven of Notre Dame’s run came when Kat Lawrence (5-8) was in the circle for St. John’s, added three more on Ashley Beza and four against Myriah Rodgers.
–ND–