Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Softball Loses Rematch With Louisiana-Lafayette

March 1, 2003

Box Score

The University of Notre Dame softball team fell to 5-6 on the season with a 5-3 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette (9-2) on Saturday evening at the Louisiana Classic. The Irish offense continued to hit the ball well, piling up 11 hits, but stranded nine runners on base to fall short on the scoreboard. ULL came through with three home runs to represent most of their RBI.

Andria Bledsoe and Nicole deFau paced the Irish offense. Bledsoe ended up three for three and hit her third home run of the tournament, while deFau was two for three with a home run.

Notre Dame starting pitcher Heather Booth gave up four runs on five hits to suffer her third loss of the season. Afton Thoms scattered the 11 Notre Dame hits for Louisiana-Lafayette, giving up three runs and striking out two.

The Irish were able to get on the scoreboard first when deFau drilled her first home run of the season (and second career) in the bottom of the second inning. The lead did not last long, however, as ULL’s Summar Lampeyrouse led off the third inning with a solo home run. Becky McMurtry followed two outs later with her own solo shot to put the Lady Cajuns up 2-1.

The Lady Cajuns added two more runs in the top of the fourth on a bases loaded walk and a Crystal George RBI single with the bases loaded. Carrie Wisen entered into the game in relief with the bases still loaded an one out. She was able to get a strike out and a ground ball back to her to escape further damage.

Notre Dame got a run back in the fourth inning when Bledsoe led off with a single and moved to second on a Lisa Mattison ground out. Liz Hartmann then singled and moved to second on the throw, which also allowed Bledsoe to score from second base. deFau then singled in the hole at second base and move Hartmann to third. deFau quickly stole second base to get in scoring position, but Alexis Madrid fouled out to third base and Megan Ciolli struck out to end the inning.

Two more runners were stranded in the fifth inning and the Irish left the bases loaded in the sixth without scoring. Louisiana-Lafayette, however, tacked on an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Jill Robertson homered to left-center field.

Bledsoe homered in the bottom of the seventh for Notre Dame to cut into the lead, but Andrea Loman and Megan Ruthrauff flied out and Lisa Mattison grounded out to end the game.

Notre Dame will be back in action Sunday at 11 a.m. against Northwestern State, looking to avenge its loss on Friday and leave the Louisiana Classic with a 6-6 record.

GAME NOTES: Irish head coach Deanna Gumpf was ejected from the game in the fourth inning while protesting an ever-changing strike zone … the umpire that ejected Coach Gumpf was the same who ran Andrea Loman from Friday evening’s match up with Louisiana-Lafayette … Megan Ciolli, Andrea Loman, Meagan Ruthrauff and Kellie Middleton had one hit in the game … Liz Hartmann was two for three … Carrie Wisen came in for relief, working 3.2 innings with four hits (a home run) and two strike outs.