April 18, 2005
The University of Notre Dame softball team (29-8), riding one of the nation’s longest winning streaks with 19 consecutive wins, will face DePaul (27-12) in Chicago for a doubleheader on Thursday at 3 p.m. The doubleheader will mark Notre Dame’s biggest test since the early season schedule, as DePaul is currently 14-1 in Conference USA and have won 15 of 16 games.
Stenglein named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week:
Senior Steffany Stenglein earned her first BIG EAST weekly award of the season on Monday, April 18, as she was named the league’s pitcher of the week by the conference office. Stenglein dominated Notre Dame’s competition last weekend, striking out 36 batters in 19.2 innings (13.1 per seven innings), earning four victories and pitching two complete-game shutouts.
Stenglein took a no-hitter into the seventh inning at Providence on Saturday, surrendering a lead off double but striking out a career-best 15 batters for the victory. She also earned the victory in game two at Providence, finishing off a 5-4 come-from-behind win.
Taking to the circle against Connecticut on Sunday, Stenglein continued her fine form with 14 strikeouts in a four hit complete game victory.
She lowered her season ERA to 1.29 with the two victories and has piled up 177 strikeouts in 113.2 innings pitched (10.9 per game).
DePaul series history and team analysis:
Notre Dame and DePaul will be meeting for the 43rd and 44th time on Tuesday … the series is the most prolific in Notre Dame softball history, as the Irish and Blue Demons have met each season since 1989, save for the 1996 campaign … the Blue Demons lead the all-time series 25-16-1, but the Irish have won six of the last 10 meetings … Notre Dame also has eliminated DePaul from the NCAA regional in 2002 and 2004 … the teams split a regular-season doubleheader at Ivy Field last season, with DePaul winning game one 3-1 and the Irish taking game two 2-1 … Notre Dame defeated DePaul in the NCAA Region VII Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich., last season 8-6 … DePaul is 27-12 in 2005 and 14-1 in Conference USA … they are led on offense by two big hitters, Ashley Parker (.390, seven stolen bases) and Saskia Roberson (.357, 10 HR, 28 RBI) … Notre Dame should see Megan Huitink (12-8, 1.61 ERA) and Tracie Adix (15-4, 2.25 ERA) in the pitching circle … Notre Dame is 5-8 all-time at Wish Field.
Notre Dame and DePaul to be conference mates next season:
DePaul will be one of three new schools joining the BIG EAST Conference to compete in softball next season … South Florida and Louisville will also be members in softball, while Boston College leaves to join the ACC.
Irish win streak second-longest of Gumpf era:
Notre Dame’s current 19-game win streak is the second-longest of head coach Deanna Gumpf’s tenure, as her 2002 team won 20 straight games in the month of April … the Irish have not lost since a 7-4 set back to Marshall in the Buckeye Invitational on March 19 … the streak also threatens to be the second-longest in school history, but has a way to go before matching the 2001 team’s 33 game streak … here is a look at Notre Dame’s winning streak history (minimum streak of 10):
33 – 3-28-01 to 5-10-01, began with 6-0 victory over Valparaiso, ended with 2-1 loss to Seton Hall at the BIG EAST Championship … loss before streak to #9 CS Fullerton at the Kia Klassic, 5-4.
20 – 4-1-03 to 4-27-03, began with 7-3 win at Purdue, ended with 2-1 loss at Connecticut … loss before streak to #22 Northwestern, 3-2.
19 – 3-19-05 to current, began with 8-0 win vs. Oakland in the Buckeye Invitational … loss before the streak 7-4 to Marshall in the Buckeye Invitational.
19 – 3-16-96 to 4-11-96, began with 4-2 win over Florida Atlantic at Florida State Tournament, ended with 4-1 loss to Villanova … loss before streak to Bradley, 3-1 at Florida State Tournament.
17 – 4-11-98 to 4-28-98, began with 7-0 win over Seton Hall, ended with 4-1 loss to Connecticut in the BIG EAST Championship … loss before streak to Purdue, 4-0.
14 – 3-30-02 to 4-14-02, began with 13-1 (6) victory at Pittsburgh, ended with 3-0 loss to Syracuse … loss before streak to New Mexico, 5-4.
13 – 4-17-02 to 5-3-02, began with 14-1 (5) victory vs. Indiana State, ended with 5-2 loss to Rutgers … loss before streak to Syracuse, 3-0.
13 – 4-16-90 – 4-25-90, began with 4-0 victory at Loyola (Chicago), ended with 2-0 loss to Grace College … loss before streak at DePaul, 3-2.
12 – 4-22-00 to 5-18-00, began with 7-3 victory at Pittsburgh, ended with 0-1 loss to DePaul in the NCAA Region VI tournament … loss before streak to Indiana State, 3-2.
11 – 2-26-00 to 3-15-00, began with 2-1 victory over Arkansas at the Morning News Classic in Fayetteville, ended with 2-1 loss to #3 Arizona at the Kia Klassic … loss before streak to Arkansas at the Morning News Classic, 4-2.
10 – 4-17-91 to 4-29-91, began with 2-0 victory over St. Joseph (Ind.), ended with 4-0 loss at DePaul … loss before streak to Indiana State, 6-1.
Tough weekend ahead:
After Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Irish will return home for 12 consecutive home games to end the regular season. Notre Dame will host Akron in a doubleheader on Thursday, April 21, at 3 p.m., followed by St. John’s in a doubleheader on Friday, April 22, at 3 p.m. The Irish will then play host to conference-leader Seton Hall (10-2, in first place via the conference point system) on Sunday, April 24, at 11 a.m. The Seton Hall doubleheader will cap a series of eight games in six days.