March 14, 2004
The University of Notre Dame softball team (17-9) wrapped up competition in the Florida State Invitational on Sunday afternoon, winning to games to finish the weekend with a 5-2 record. The Irish snuck by Penn State 1-0 in the first game, then dispatched Florida A&M 8-0 in five innings.
Notre Dame manufactured its lone run against the Nittany Lions to prevail in the pitcher’s duel. In the bottom of the fourth, Meagan Ruthrauff drew a walk and moved to second on a passed ball. Liz Hartmann followed with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners. Irish head coach Deanna Gump called a double steal, which Penn State did not cover properly at second base. The throw from the catcher careened into centerfield and Ruthrauff scored easily on the play.
It was another great pitching performance for sophomore Heather Booth, picking up the shutout victory. Booth surrendered just two hits while striking out six and not allowing a single walk. Megan Ciolli and Carissa Jaquish had the other two hits for Notre Dame.
With the victory, Notre Dame moved on to face Florida A&M.
Notre Dame won its last game of the tournament in dominating fashion, piling up eight runs on eight hits over five innings to defeat Florida A&M 8-0. Ciolli, Ruthrauff and Mallorie Lenn each had two RBI in the game, while Jaquish was two for two and freshman Stephanie Brown was two for three with two runs scored.
The Irish scored six of their eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. Ciolli had a two-run double, while Ruthrauff and Lenn added two-run singles. Sara Schoonaert also had her first career triple in the game.
Steffany Stenglein picked up the victory to even her record at 5-5 on the season. She allowed just one hit to the Rattlers.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM: Sophomores Meagan Ruthrauff and Heather Booth were named to the FSU Invitational all-tournament team … Ruthrauff was six for 16 (.375) in the tournament … Booth was 3-0 with 22 strikeouts and eight hits allowed in three appearances … Florida State won the tournament behind MVP Jessica Van der Linden.