April 28, 2006
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Notre Dame at USF, Saturday, 10:30 a.m. (DH) ESPNU (Game One)
Notre Dame at #21/22 Louisville, Sunday, 12 noon (DH)
Biggest BIG EAST weekend of the year lies ahead for the Irish –
The University of Notre Dame softball team (33-14) will face its most important weekend of the regular season when it goes on the road to face new BIG EAST Conference opponents USF (41-20, 11-1) and #21/22 Louisville (31-8, 9-3) in back-to-back doubleheaders in less than 24 hours.
The Irish, Bulls and Cardinals are all battling for the BIG EAST regular-season crown, a title that Notre Dame has claimed each of its 10 years in the conference. DePaul, USF and Louisville are all in their first year of softball competition in the BIG EAST this season.
Notre Dame, USF and Syracuse have already locked up a spot in the 2006 BIG EAST Championship, which will be played Thursday, May 11 – Saturday, May 13 at the Belleville Softball Complex in South Bend, Ind.
Notre Dame to make its second appearance on ESPNU –
Notre Dame’s first contest at USF, rescheduled for a 10:30 a.m. start due to weekend travel commitments, will be broadcast live on ESPNU. Tracy Warren will be the game’s play-by-play announcer, while Cindy Bristow will serve as the analyst and Meg Aronowitz as the producer.
Saturday will mark Notre Dame’s second appearance on ESPNU this season and fourth television game of the year. The Irish defeated DePaul 5-0 on ESPNU at Ivy Field back on April 13, the first game of a doubleheader sweep over the Blue Demons.
Irish ALERT continues this weekend –
A joint effort between Centennial Wireless, Notre Dame Sports Properties and the Notre Dame Sports Information Office has made up-to-the-minute text messaging a reality this season. Notre Dame announced the Irish ALERT system, which will cover baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse this spring for a free trial.
Simply sign up for the service at www.und.com and your mobile device will receive score updates from each of the four sports throughout the 2006 season. The service also will provide periodical updates providing team schedules and special alerts when content is uploaded on www.und.com.
For softball, updates are sent when a schedule change pops up (delayed games, added games) and in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings of each Irish game.
Irish rule the month of April –
Since Deanna Gumpf took over the Irish softball program in 2002 – the team has been close to unbeatable in the month of April. Entering this weekend’s doubleheaders, the Irish are 103-15 (.872) in April over the last five years.
Here is a breakdown of Notre Dame’s record during April since 2002.
2002: 24-1
2003: 21-2
2004: 19-5
2005: 20-3
2006: 19-4
Notre Dame has won 22 of last 26 games –
After battling through a six-game stretch of one-run games with a 3-3 record from March 15-19 (at the Judi Garman Classic), Notre Dame has won 22 of its last 26 games , compiling winning streaks of nine games and six games (twice) over that stretch.
Valparaiso recap –
Notre Dame rallied from an early 2-1 deficit to defeat Valparaiso 6-2 on Thursday, April 27 … the Irish offense was led by two for four performances by senior Meagan Ruthrauff and sophomore Katie Laing … Laing doubled in her first two at bats in the contest, giving her a team-high 14 doubles this season … junior Gessica Hufnagle hit her first career home run in the contest as well … while not overpowering, senior Heather Booth picked up her 18th win of the year by allowing four hits, two runs (one earned) and striking out three.
Mallorie Lenn, Brittney Bargar land on BIG EAST weekly honor roll –
Senior Mallorie Lenn, who began her week with a three for four performance vs. #17/17 Northwestern, joined freshman Brittney Bargar on the BIG EAST weekly honor roll on Monday, April 23 … Lenn finished the week with a .474 average with seven RBI, two doubles and a home run … Bargar ended up 3-0 on the week with a 1.05 ERA and 17 Ks in 20.0 IP.
ND series history vs. USF –
Notre Dame and USF are set to meet for the 10th and 11th time on Saturday … South Florida leads the all-time series 5-4, and along with fellow BIG EAST newcomer DePaul, is the only conference team to boast a winning record against the Irish … the teams split a doubleheader at the GRU Classic, hosted by the University of Florida last season … Notre Dame lost the first matchuup 5-0, but rallied to knock off #21 USF 4-2 in game two and eventually claim the tournament title with victory over Florida … Notre Dame has not visited USF since 2003 – when the Bulls snuck out a 5-4 victory over the Irish … of all Notre Dame early-season tournament destinations, USF has been the most visited by the team … Notre Dame has appeared at USF seven times for tournament action (1993, `94, `96, `99, 2001 and `03) … Notre Dame won the 2001 Holiday Inn Invitational at USF, including a 2-0 victory over the sixth-ranked Bulls … Notre Dame is 3-2 against USF at the USF Softball Field.
USF preview –
South Florida is currently in second place in the BIG EAST Conference standings with a 11-1 league mark … USF is 41-20 in 2006 and has played a whopping 36 games at home this season (26-10) … senior 3B/C Krista Holle leads the team’s offensive attack with a .366 average (.438 in league play) with 12 stolen bases and 26 RBI … senior OF Tiffany Stewart provides the power in the lineup with 8 HR, 39 RBI and a .303 batting average … pitching has been the USF team strength this season, as the Bulls boast a 1.32 team ERA … freshman Christi Ecks (1.02 ERA, 17-11, 173 Ks) and sophomore Bree Spence (1.12 ERA, 19-6, 118 Ks) provide a potent one-two combination for USF.
Louisville series history –
Notre Dame an Louisville will be meeting for just the third and fourth time on Sunday … the series is tied at 1-1, withthe Irish claiming the most recent meeting 3-2 at last season’s NCAA Region No. 9 – hosted by Notre Dame … Notre Dame pitchers struck out 17 batters in the NCAA meeting, as Notre Dame rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning … Heather Booth picked up the victory in relief … the previous meeting in the series was a 4-3 Louisville victory at the Arizona Pepsi Classic in 2002 … Sunday will mark Notre Dame’s first appearance at Ulmer Stadium.
Louisville preview –
The Cardinals are 31-8 in 2006, 9-3 in BIG EAST play and ranked #21 in the NFCA Top 25 and #22 in the USA Softball poll … Lacy Wood is the key hitter in the Cardinals lineup, boasting a .403 batting average with a team-high 33 RBI … the pitching staff is anchored by reigning BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week Catherine Bishop, who boasts a 0.72 ERA, 20-5 record and has 157 Ks in 155.1 IP.
Notre Dame in BIG EAST regular-season play –
Notre Dame boasts an 13-1 record in BIG EAST Conference play this season, continuing its tradition of excellence during the league’s regular-season play. The Irish have lost four games in conference play only once since it joined the league in 1996 and boast an overall record of 177-20 (.898) entering this weekend’s competition. Notre Dame’s BIG EAST regular-season records: 1996 – 19-1, 1997 – 16-4, 1998 – 13-3, 1999 – 16-0, 2000 – 14-2, 2001 – 20-0, 2002 – 18-2, 2003 – 14-3, 2004 – 18-2, 2005 – 16-2, 2006 – 13-1.
The Irish have won 10 consecutive BIG EAST regular-season crowns since 1996.
Irish captains –
Notre Dame will feature four captains this season for just the second time in the program’s history. The senior class of Heather Booth, Mallorie Lenn, Meagan Ruthrauff and Sara Schoonaert will provide leadership both on and off the field for the team in 2006. The only other team to feature four captains was Notre Dame’s most successful team ever – the 2001 squad. Current Irish assistant coach Lizzy Lemire shared the captaincy that season with Melanie Alkire, Danielle Klayman and Jennifer Sharron. The Irish finished 54-7 in `01 and earned a number-one seed in the NCAA Championship.
Notre Dame softball on the small screen –
The University of Notre Dame softball team will be featured one more time on cable television this season, with a possible additional appearance in the BIG EAST Championship. Notre Dame’s first appearance was a single game against Ball State on Tuesday, April 11 shown by Comcast Local. The Irish defeated the Cardinals 5-0.
The first game of a doubleheader vs. DePaul on April 13 was shown live by ESPNU- a game which the Irish won 5-0. The Irish also faced #17/17 Northwestern live on CSTV for a single game on April 18.
ESPNU also will cover Notre Dame’s first visit to USF as a conference opponent, picking up the first game of that doubleheader on Saturday, April 29 (10:30 a.m.).
Notre Dame’s road game at Louisville will also be televised in the Louisville, Ky., area with ABC affiliate WHAS picking up the broadcast.
Finally, CSTV will broadcast the BIG EAST Championship final game from the Belleville Softball Complex in South Bend, Ind., on May 13 at 6 p.m. The winner of that contest will receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
One-run warriors –
Notre Dame has played 18 one-run games this year. The team has posted an even 9-9 record in those 18 games, meaning that nine of the team’s 14 losses this season have come by a single run.
Going back to March 3 (an extra-inning three-run loss to Nebraska), the Irish have lost just two gamse by more than one run (as 4-2 setback to Akron on April 5 and 7-4 loss to Purdue on April 26). During the team’s trip to Southern California for spring break, the Irish played six consecutive one-run games, going 3-3 during the stretch with a win over #10 Arizona State and losses to #4 Texas (6-5), #6 Alabama (4-3) and at CS Fullerton (3-2 in eight innings).
•Notre Dame’s one-run victories –
1-0 vs. Buffalo, 1-0 at Cal Poly SLO (G2), 3-2 vs. #10 Arizona State, 1-0 vs. Florida State, 2-1 at Western Michigan, 1-0 vs. Bowling Green, 1-0 vs. Eastern Michigan, 2-1 vs. Connecticut, 8-7 vs. Villanova.
•Notre Dame’s one-run losses –
5-4 vs. Colorado State, 5-4 at Florida International, 2-1 at Tulsa, 2-1 vs. Stephen F. Austin (8), 3-2 at CS Fullerton (8), 6-5 vs. #4 Texas, 4-3 vs. #6 Alabama, 2-1 at Syracuse, 3-2 at #17/17 Northwestern.
Notre Dame takes some of the nation’s top teams to the brink –
Just a quick glance at the nation’s top 25 teams (as of April 12) will provide the true nature of Notre Dame’s 2006 schedule. The Irish have faced six teams ranked in the nation’s top 25 (according to the NFCA top 25) and will have one ranked game remaining – at #21/22 Louisville this Sunday, April 30.
While the Irish have just one win against its six ranked teams faced in 2006 – they have competed head-to-head with the nation’s top teams and represented themselves well. Current NFCA ranking listed –
•#10 Arizona State – (W, 3-2) Notre Dame earned its biggest victory of the year and ended a 10-game winning streak for the Sun Devils … the Irish took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Meagan Ruthrauff in the bottom of the second inning … ASU answered with a home run of its own, a two-run shot by Mindy Cowles in the third inning … ASU kept its one run lead until the bottom of the seventh when freshman Stephanie Mola reached on an error and scored on a walk-off two-run home run by Stephanie Brown.
•#2 Texas – (L, 6-5) Notre Dame led the Longhorns 5-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning … the Irish built their lead on two-run home runs from Mallorie Lenn (in the top of the first) and Katie Laing (in the top of the fifth) … after allowing just one run over the first four innings, freshman Brittney Bargar allowed four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning … the Longhorns won the game on a solo home run by pinch hitter Rachel Cook in the bottom of the sixth inning.
•#3 Alabama – (L, 4-3) In the next game on the Irish schedule after the near miss vs. Texas, Notre Dame led Alabama 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning … Mallorie Lenn provided the big hit again with a two-run homer … Alabama answered with three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off Heather Booth … Bama’s Jordan Praytor then provided the big hit with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth … that run proved to be the game-winner, as the Irish posted two runs in the top of the seventh on a home run from freshman Linda Kohan.
•#16 Nebraska – (L, 5-2 in eight) Taking on the Cornhuskers in Tulsa, Notre Dame rallied from a 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on and RBI double by Stephanie Brown and RBI single from Mallorie Lenn … Nebraska answered with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning to extend the game … the Cornhuskers eventually won the game in the bottom of the seventh, utilizing the international tiebreaker rule to score three unearned runs with two outs
• #17 Northwestern – (L, 3-2) Notre Dame took a 2-0 lead in the third inning against the Wildcats on an RBI single from Sara Schoonaert, followed by an RBI double by Mallorie Lenn … NU answered back with a solo home run in the fifth inning … the Irish held a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning, but a leadoff walk doomed Notre Dame and Northwestern was able to sneak out a 3-2 victory.
New BIG EAST Conference unveiled in 2006 –
The BIG EAST Conference expansion, which officially took place this fall, has garnered most of its attention in men’s basketball. The conference has quickly transformed into the top men’s basketball league in the country, but the effect that expansion will have on softball cannot be overlooked. The BIG EAST welcomes three traditional softball powers into the conference this season with the addition of DePaul, Louisville and South Florida. All three of the new teams will compete to end Notre Dame’s regular-season conference title streak which stands at 10 years entering the `06 campaign.
Combined with an already solid conference lineup, the BIG EAST is now arguably the top softball league east of the Mississippi River. With a new league alignment, the BIG EAST Championship – scheduled to be played in South Bend, Ind., beginning May 11 – will feature a new schedule. The top eight teams from the league standings will take part in a single-elimination, three-day tournament to determine the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA Championship. The final game of that tournament will be shown live on CSTV.
Season schedule has been/will be a challenge –
The 2006 season will prove a challenge for the Irish, as the team will face several teams ranked in the top 25, or just out of the national rankings.
According to the latest rankings, the Irish will face (NFCA rankings first, followed by USA Softball) #21/23 Louisville on April 30 as its only remaining ranked opponent. Notre Dame has already faced #10/10 Arizona State (3-2 victory), #4/4 Texas (6-5 loss), #6/7 Alabama (4-3 loss), #14/12 Oregon State (5-0 loss) and #17/17 Nebraska (5-3, eight-inning loss), #17/17 Northwestern (3-2 loss). The Irish also have faced DePaul (5-0 and 3-1 victories) and BYU (8-3 victory), who have both been in and out of the national polls this season and .
Notre Dame knocked off four ranked teams durng the 2005 season. The Irish defeated #21 South Florida and #19 Florida on their first weekend of action (Feb. 12-13), then knocked off #5/6 Tennessee in its last game at the Palm Springs Classic. Notre Dame also defeated #15 Northwestern with a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh on Tuesday, April 26, 2005.
Under head coach Deanna Gumpf, the Irish have knocked off at least three ranked teams in three of four seasons (#25 South Florida, #4 Nebraska, #15 Oregon State in `02; #8 Nebraska, #14 Nebraska, #18 Nebraska in `04). The Irish have defeated a total of 14 ranked teams during Gumpf’s tenure. The most ranked wins for the Irish came in 2001, when the team defeated eight teams ranked in the national top 25.
Deanna Gumpf nabs 200th win in record-setting style –
Notre Dame head coach Deanna Gumpf won her 200th game with the Irish in game two at Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 9 – and the Irish made sure the win would be remembered with a record-setting performance. As a team, Notre Dame pounded out 21 hits – matching the school record set back in 1992 against Rhode Island.
Two Irish players posted personal-best hit totals in the contest, with junior Stephanie Brown and senior Meagan Ruthrauff going four for five at the plate. Ruthrauff’s big game drew much of the attention, however, as she set two school records in the contest by hitting three home runs and driving in seven runs.
Gumpf is now 210-83 in her career with the Irish and has led the team to five consecutive NCAA appearances and five consecutive BIG EAST regular-season titles during her tenure.
New coaching staff, new Gumpf Family addition –
Notre Dame unveiled its new coaching staff in a unique way this season. Lizzy Lemire, a 2001 Notre Dame graduate, has joined the staff and Kris Ganeff (Notre Dame `99) moves up into the first assistant role. The change came about with the decision of former Irish assistant coach Charmelle Green to take a job in Notre Dame’s Student-Athlete Development Program.
The unusual twist to the story is that Irish head coach Deanna Gumpf missed Lemire’s official debut with the team. Gumpf and her husband John welcomed their second child, Tatum Elizabeth, on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Deanna has rejoined the team full time on the road for its Spring Break trip to Southern California.
To aid in the pitching staff’s development during Gumpf’s pregnancy, former Irish assistant coach and 1993 Penn State graduate Dawn Austin returned to the team as a volunteer assistant coach this season.
Irish pile up a record 46 hits in three games –
The Notre Dame offense hit a lull over a four-game stretch from April 2-8. The Irish finished 2-2 during the four-game run and combined for 19 hits as a team. Starting with game two at Syracuse, the Irish offense seems to be finding its stride again.
Over a three-game stretch last weekend, all victories, Notre Dame amassed 46 hits (12 vs. Syracuse, 13 vs. Pittsburgh, 21 vs. Pittsburgh) – a school record for hits over three consecutive games.
Notre Dame had previously notched 40 hits in three consecutive games three times:
• 1996 vs. Rutgers (19), Rutgers (12) and Rutgers (9) – from 3-30 to 3-31
•1998 vs. Loyola Chicago (13), vs. Loyola Chicago (14) and Rutgers (13) – from 3-26 to 3-28
• 2003 at Syracuse (11), Valparaiso (12) and Valparaiso (17) – from 4-19 to 4-23
The 2003 season also saw the Irish post the school record for consecutive games with 10 team hits – as Notre Dame won 10 games in a row from April 13 – April 23 and posted at least 10 hits in each game.
Irish have nine players with at least 10 RBI this season –
The 2006 Notre Dame softball team has nine players who have driven in at least 10 runs this season – that ties the 2004 and 2001 teams for second place all-time the program’s history. The 1994 seasoon saw 10 Irish players drive in at least 10 runs.
So far this season, Meagan Ruthrauff has driven in 35 runs, followed by Mallorie Lenn (33), Katie Laing (24), Linda Kohan (23), Sara Schoonaert (16), Stephanie Brown (14), Gessica Hufnagle (11), Erin Glasco (11) and Carissa Jaquish (10).
Irish compile a record-matching 21 hits in game two vs. Pittsburgh –
Notre Dame’s offense exploded for 21 hits in game two at Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 9, in a 14-4 victory over the Panthers. The performance matched the school record for hits in a single game. Notre Dame posted 21 hits against Rhode Island on March 14, 1992.
The Irish and Panthers also combined for a Notre Dame record 32 hits in game two – breaking the previous combined hits record of 29 (in the same game against Rhode Island, 1992 and vs. St. Joseph’s on April 17, 1990).
Irish toss three no-hitters in 2006, most for the program since 1994 –
Notre Dame’s pitching staff has posted three no-hitters this season – the most for Notre Dame since Terri Kobata patrolled the pitching circle for Notre Dame back in 1994. In 1994, Kobata hurled eight no-hitters, part of 15 to her credit at Notre Dame.
In `06, Brittney Bargar posted the program’s first eight-inning no hitter in a 2-1 victory over Connecticut on April 1. Heather Booth and Kenya Fuemmeler combined for a no-hitter at Western Michigan back on March 26 and just recently, Booth claimed her first career perfect game in Notre Dame’s 8-0, five-inning victory over Rutgers on April 23.
Notre Dame continues its defensive prowess under Gumpf in 2006 –
The Irish defense has continued to be a dependable force for the team, as Notre Dame will enter this weekend’s play with a .980 fielding percentage. Threatening the school mark of .974 by the 2003 team, the `06 squad has kept alive the tradition of solid defense since Deanna Gumpf took over the program in 2002. The 2003 (.974), 2002 (.971) and 2004 (.968) teams rank one-two-three on the single-season list at Notre Dame.
Irish boast two top hitters in conference play –
Entering this weekend’s BIG EAST action, Notre Dame boasts the two top hitters (in terms of average) in conference play this season. In 12 games, junior Stephanie Brown is 25 for 45 (.556) with four RBI and 15 runs scored from the top of Notre Dame’s lineup. Right behind her in the league batting average standings is senior Meagan Ruthrauff, who is 19 for 40 in conference play (.475) with 18 RBI, 12 runs scored and seven home runs. She leads the conference in home runs with seven, one head of Syracuse’s Alexis Switenko.
Ruthrauff breaks two long-standing Irish records in remarkable performance –
Senior 3B Megan Ruthrauff will see her name atop two single-game record categories after game two at Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 9.
Ruthrauff posted a personal-best four hits in game two – three of which left the park for home runs. She hit a solo shot to leftfield in the top of the first, had an RBI single in the fourth, added a solo shot in the sixth and put an exclamation mark on her day with a grand slam in the seventh inning.
Ruthrauff used all three fields for her home runs (one to left, one to center and one to right) and set the Notre Dame record for home runs in a single game (three) and RBI (seven).
The RBI record was first set in 2000 by `01 graduate Melanie Alkire. Alkire drove in six agianst San Diego State on March 12, 2000. The record was tied twice, once by `02 graduate Jarrah Myers at CS Northridge on March 11, 2001 and again by `05 graduate Liz Hartmann against Oakland on April 30, 2002.
The single-game home run record was held by nine different players – who accomplished the feat a combined 14 times. The most recent was by Hartmann, who hit two home runs against Nebraska on Feb. 14, 2004.
Ruthrauff earned her fifth career BIG EAST Player of the Week award for her performance over the weekend. Over a four-game conference stretch against Syracuse and Pittsburgh, Ruthrauff was nine for 13 with six runs scored, five home runs and 10 RBI.
Ruthrauff reaches career walks record –
Senior 1B Meagan Ruthrauff, Notre Dame’s cleanup hitter the last three seasons, is not only a potent RBI producer (152 in three-plus years, third the all-time Notre Dame list), but she also has outstanding plate discipline.
Ruthrauff has drawn 106 walks during her career, surpassing matching Andrea Loman’s (2000-03) previous Notre Dame career record of 87.
Ruthrauff has already drawn 26 free passes this season and ranks one-two on the single-season walk list at Notre Dame. In 2004, she drew a record 36 base on balls and followed up with 31 walks in 2005.
Booth becomes first Irish pitcher to log 800 innings pitched in memorable style –
Senior Heather Booth surpassed the 800 inning pitched barrier on Senior Day at Ivy Field, when she and her three classmates were honored for their four years of dedication on Sunday, April 23 against Rutgers. Booth made sure the day would be memorable, as she pitched her first career solo no-hitter and perfect game in Notre Dame’s five-inning, 8-0 victory over the Scarlet Knights. Booth retired all 15 batters she faced, striking out four. She has two other combined no-hitters to her credit
A front line pitcher for the Irish since she stepped on campus in 2003, Booth could become the first Irish pitcher to pitch 800 innings and strikeout 800 batters. She needs 38 strikeouts this season to reach 800 in her career.
Booth now Notre Dame’s most prolific pitcher –
While leading her team to a 7-0 victory over Pittsburgh in game one on Sunday, April 9, senior Heather Booth became Notre Dame’s all-time leader in innings pitched with 773.1 – surpassing Jen Sharron’s previous school mark of 772.1. Booth has been a front-line starter for the Irish since she arrived on campus four years ago and ranks in the top five for all of Notre Dame’s significant pitching records.
Currently, Booth is first all-time in innings pitched (814.0), second in appearances (147), second in games started (122), second in wins (87), first in complete games (77), fourth in shutouts (27) and third in strikeouts (762). See page nine of this notes package for a complete listing of Booth on the all-time statistical charts.
Laing approaching single-season doubles record, AGAIN –
Sophomore Katie Laing posted 17 doubles as a rookie last season to match current Irish assistant coach Lizzy Lemire (1999) and Jenn Giampaolo (1996) for the school record. After a slow start to the season, Laing has now reached 14 doubles – tied for ninth on the single-season list and Notre Dame and threatening the school record that she shares.
Already with 31 doubles in her career , Laing needs just three more to break into the all-time top 10 at Notre Dame in that category.
South Bend plays host to the 2006 BIG EAST Championship –
For the fourth time in the last five years, the BIG EAST Softball Championship will be held in a neutral/off-campus site in 2006.
After Salem, Va., served as the tournament’s site in 2002 and 2003, the City of South Bend, Ind., will welcome the 2006 BIG EAST Softball Championship to the Belleville Complex on the far west side of town.
The Belleville Complex is one of the best softball-only facilities in Indiana and served as host to over 3,000 fans when the U.S. Olympic Team played an exhibition doubleheader in July of 2005.
Directions to the BIG EAST Championship –
The Belleville Complex is located on the far west side of South Bend, Ind., on Mayflower Road.
From the east/west: Take I80/90 Toll Road to the South Bend West/Plymouth 31 South Exit. Go south on US 31 to the Mayflower Road (north) exit. The complex is on the right after the exit.
From the south: Take US 31 north from Indianapolis, follow the US 31 By Pass west once you reach the South Bend city limits. Take the Mayflower Road exit (north) off the US 31 bypass. The complex is on the right after the exit.
From downtown South Bend: Take State Road 933 (Main Street) through downtown South Bend to Sample Street. Take a right on Sample Street and travel 3.5 miles on Sample to Mayflower Road. Take a left on Mayflower Road, the complex will be on your left.
From the University of Notre Dame: Take Eddy (Juniper) Street south – it will take a turn to the west and become Sample Street. Follow Sample Street across Main Street and continue on Sample for 3.5 miles to Mayflower Road. Take a left on Mayflower Road, the complex will be on your left.