March 20, 2000
FULLERTON, Calif. – Second-ranked Arizona tallied two, three-run home runs to defeat Notre Dame 6-3 in softball action Sunday at the 2000 Kia Classic at Cal State Fullerton. With the loss, the Irish fell to 18-6 overall, while the Wildcats improved to 34-1.
The Wildcats got on the board in the first inning when catcher Lindsay Collins hit a three-run home run down the left field line.
Notre Dame’s first good opportunity to score came in the top of the fifth when junior Lizzy Lemire (Irvine, Calif.) singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice and then tried to score but was tagged out at the plate on a single up the middle by sophomore Jennifer Kriech (Indianapolis, Ind.).
The Irish capitalized on their next opportunity when pitcher Jennifer Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.) lead-off the sixth inning with her first career home run over the fence in right field.
Arizona, however, increased its lead when Chrissy Gil hit the Wildcats’ second, three-run home run of the game over the left field fence to extend the lead to 6-1.
Notre Dame did not go down easily in the top of the seventh, however, as outfielder Dani Klayman (San Diego, Calif.) became the second Irish player to record her first career home run in the game, blasting a two-run shot over the right field fence. Arizona pitcher Jennifer Finch then got Irish pinch hitter Lisa Mattison (Granger, Ind.) and Kriech to go down swinging. Sharron then grounded out to first to end the game and Notre Dame’s successful Kia Classic run.
Notre Dame plays host to its first home games of the 2000 season Thursday, March 23, versus in-state rival Purdue in doubleheader action at 4 p.m.