April 22, 2006
On a beautiful but windy day at Ivy Field, the University of Notre Dame softball team (29-13) improved its BIG EAST record to 11-1 in 2006 with a doubleheader sweep of Villanova (13-30, 2-14). The Irish won game one 8-7, rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh and eased to an 8-3 game-two victory.
It was an unusual day of softball at Ivy Field. Notre Dame’s pitchers entered the BIG EAST doubleheader 9-1 in conference play with miniscule ERAs. The Irish also boasted a six-game streak of shutout victories over the Wildcats.
At the end of the afternoon, the teams had combined for 39 hits, 26 runs and the Irish were required to post two come-from-behind victories. Freshman Erin Glasco was one of the top stars of the day. She hit a walk-off RBI single in game one to drive in the winning run for the Irish and launched her first career home run in game two – a two-run shot that ricocheted off the top of the Ivy Field scoreboard.
Junior Stephanie Brown also proved to be an offensive star for the Irish, as she ended up five for seven in the doubleheader with two runs scored, two doubles, two singles and a home run to lead off the first game for the Irish.
Senior Heather Booth (15-9) and freshman Brittney Bargar (14-4) picked up the pitching victories for the team, but each allowed a season-high for hits by their opposition.
Notre Dame will return to action at home tomorrow, Sunday, April 23, with a doubleheader against BIG EAST Conference foe Rutgers at 11 a.m.
GAME ONE RECAP:
The Irish seemed to be on the way to another shutout victory over Villanova in game one. Brown led off the bottom of the first by swinging away on a 3-0 pitch and hitting a towering solo home run to left-centerfield.
Notre Dame tacked on two more unearned runs in the second inning, scoring the first run on a wild pitch and the second on a throwing error while attempting a double steal.
The lead increased to five runs in the fourth inning when freshman Linda Kohan and junior Carissa Jaquish began the inning with back-to-back singles. They were moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt from junior Gessica Hufnagle.
Freshman Beth Northway then stepped in for her first at bat of the year and posted an RBI infield hit. After Brown posted an infield slap hit, senior Sara Schoonaert drove in the fifth run of the game for her team with a sacrifice fly.
The comfortable five-run lead instantly vanished in the fifth inning, however. With one out, Villanova put together a string of three singles to load the bases for the top of their lineup. A fielder’s choice RBI, walk, single, fielder’s choice again, walk, and two more singles ended up plating seven runs for the visiting team. The total was easily the most scored against Notre Dame in one single inning during the Deanna Gumpf era.
It took the Irish two innings to recover from the seven-run blow up, but the team regained its composure in time to post a breathtaking rally. Stepping in to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Meagan Ruthrauff sparked the Irish rally with a solo home run to centerfield. After sophomore Katie Laing grounded out sharply to second base, Kohan stepped in for her fourth at bat of the game.
Working the count full, Kohan clocked a deep fly ball into left-centerfield. The ball hit the wall just one foot short of a game-tying home run. But, even though she missed out on the long ball, Kohan got the job done by getting in scoring position.
The pressure fell to Jaquish, who answered with an RBI double into the right-centerfield gap. Similar to Kohan’s hit, the ball just missed leaving the park and the Irish were suddenly tied with a runner in scoring position.
Hufnagle was due next and she was hit by a pitch to set the stage for Glasco. It is no secret that the freshman catcher has been struggling offensively this season, but she came through when needed with a solid single through the left side of the defense. Jaquish easily scored on the play and the Irish had suddenly snuffed out the upset bid by Villanova.
GAME TWO RECAP:
Though Villanova was obviously disturbed by the end of the first game, they came right back to take an immediate lead in the first inning of game two. A leadoff double, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly staked the visiting team to a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats’ lead grew to two runs on a single and double in the fourth inning to put more pressure on the Irish offense.
The bats answered the call in the bottom of the third inning with a bit of `small ball.’ Brown and Schoonaert laid down bunt singles to set the table for Kohan (in the third spot of the batting order in game two). Kohan attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but it ended up as a perfect bunt hit as the ball found its way under the pitcher’s glove and, with the shortstop covering third base, there was no Villanova defender to pick up the ball.
Brown scored on the play, Schoonaert ended up at third and Kohan at second on the throw to home plate. Ruthrauff then stepped in and drilled a double down the leftfield line to put the Irish up 3-2.
The lead did not last long, however. Cassie Koenig led off the fifth inning with her second double of the game. She was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and after a walk, Laura Determan singled up the middle for an RBI to tie the game up at 3-3.
Notre Dame finally busted the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning – and the run string was once again sparked by a big home run. Hufnagle drew a walk to lead off the inning and Glasco launched a huge home run to right-centerfield that tattooed the Ivy Field scoreboard. The home run was the first of Glasco’s career.
The Irish added two more runs in the inning on a walk to Brown, sacrifice bunt and intentional walk to load the bases. Laing and Lenn then made the Wildcats with back-to-back RBI singles and the Irish enjoyed a comfortable four-run lead.
Notre Dame’s eighth run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded walk to Kohan.
Bargar, while not dominating, pitched effectively around eight hits, walking three and striking out seven for her fifth BIG EAST victory of the season.