April 7, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Two members of the University of Notre Dame softball team were recognized by the BIG EAST Conference on Monday after leading the Irish to a 5-0 record last week. Junior pitcher Brittney Bargar was named the league’s pitcher of the week while senior second baseman Katie Laing copped the conference’s player of the week award.
Laing earned the honor for the second time this season with an explosive offensive output that helped Notre Dame improve to 22-10 overall and 5-1 in BIG EAST play. The Tempe, Ariz., native went 10-for-19 with 13 RBI, five runs, four home runs and one double for a .526 batting average and a 1.211 slugging percentage. Laing also snagged two stolen bases. She had four multi-hit and multi-RBI games on the week, including two homers and two RBI in a 12-1 win at Seton Hall (April 6). She was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate in Notre Dame’s 2-1 victory over Toledo on April 2, slamming one home run and one double for two RBI and a run scored.
Bargar earned her third conference honor of the season on the strength of trusty right arm that helped her collect four BIG EAST victories along with a midweek win over Toledo. Her 5-0 record for the week was parlayed with a 0.00 ERA. The righty fanned 27 batters in 27.1 innings of work. She allowed only 12 hits – all singles – four walks, and one unearned run. Bargar tossed 13.1 innings over two games at St. John’s (April 5), totaling 16 strikeouts while limiting the Red Storm to seven hits. She was able to run her streak of innings pitched without surrendering an earned run to 54.1, dating back to a March 14 date at Charleston Southern.
Bargar leads the league in ERA (0.61), batters struck out (132) and wins (17). Laing heads all players in slugging percentage (.676) and RBI (36).
The Irish travel to Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday (April 8) at 5:30 p.m. (CT) for one game against the Flames. Notre Dame heads in to the contest with a six-game win streak.
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