March 6, 1999

TUSON, Ariz. – Second-ranked Arizona handed the Notre Dame softball team its worse loss ever as the tournament host Wildcats defeated the Irish 16-0 on Saturday afternnon in day two if the Hillenbrand Invitational hosted by Arizona. The Irish fell to 7-5 overall and 0-3 in this weekend’s tournament after their game with Arizona was stopped before the bottom of the fifth inning because of the eight-run rule.

The Wildcats jumped into the early lead in the bottom of the first inning when they scored three runs on three hits capped by Lindsay Collins’ two-run RBI double. In the bottom of the second, Arizona once again was able to pound out seven hits and score seven runs off Notre Dame starting pitcher Angela Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif.), who fell to 4-2 overall with the loss. The Irish did manage to get their first hit off Wildcat starter Becky Lemke (1201) on a single to right field by freshman rightfielder Jennifer Kriech (Indianapolis, Ind.). Arizona, however, tacked on another run in the bottom of the third to push the score to 11-0.

In the top of the fourth, Amy Laboe (Monroe, Mich.) led off the innig with a single to left. The Wildcats then retired sophomore shortshop Melanie Alkire (Union City, Calif.) on a caught foul ball for the first out. Senior catcher then added what would be Notre Dame’s last hit of the game with a single to left field. The Irish were unable to move either runner as Lemke got Lizzy Lemire (Irvine, Calif.) and Jarrah Myers (Carbondale, Kan.) to fly out to left and right field respectively to end the inning.

Arizona then added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, while a scoreless top of the fifth inning for the Irish ended three game at 16-0.

The Irish play Kansas t 6 p.m. and will play their first bracket game also tonight with an expected start time of 8 p.m.