April 27, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — For the second time in a week, the Notre Dame softball team dropped a one-run, 11 inning game this time to the visiting IUPUI Jaguars Tuesday afternoon at Ivy Field. With the win IUPUI improved to 23-20, while the Irish, who lost 3-2 on April 20 to Loyola in 11 innings, fell to 34-18.
The game was scoreless until the top of the ninth inning when IUPUI’s Megan Fultz reached on a fielding error, stole second and scored on catcher Adrienne Hendrick’s RBI double down the left field line. The Irish tied the game at 1-1 with two outs when freshman Kas Hoag, who fell behind in the count 1-2 and then fouled off three pitches in a row, hit a double to left-center field to score sophomore Sarah Kirkman from second.
Two innings later in the top of the 11th, the Jaguars scored what turned out to be the winning run when Fultz singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then went to third and scored on two separate wild pitches by Notre Dame hurler Jennifer Sharron.
The Irish had a chance to score in the bottom of the 11th when freshman Jarrah Myers led off with a single to left field, advanced to second on a sacrifice and moved to third on a fly out to center field with two outs. Jaguar pitcher Fultz, however, struck out Notre Dame’s Rebecca Eimen to end the threat and win the game.
Both starting pitchers, Notre Dame’s Sharron and IUPUI’s Fultz, went the distance for their teams. Sharron fell to 14-8 after giving up four hits and striking out 12, while Fultz improved her record to 13-9.
The Irish play host to St. John’s on Saturday, May 1, and Seton Hall on Sunday, May 2. Both games are BIG EAST doubleheaders at begin at 11 a.m.