March 3, 2007
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- Sophomore Erin Glasco (Johnston City, Ill./Johnston City) drilled the game-winning three-run home run in the fifth inning to lead Notre Dame’s softball team (7-6) to a 6-3 victory over Virginia (7-12) at the Crispers/JU Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. on Saturday, March 3.
Notre Dame had a great chance to score in the first inning. Senior Stephanie Brown (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) had a leadoff infield single. She went to second on a sacrifice bunt and went to third on the Linda Kohan (Westminster, Calif./Westminster) single but the next two Irish batters were retired in order to keep the game scoreless.
The Cavaliers broke through for a run in the second. Brooke Sorber reached on a fielder’s choice and moved all the way to third on a Nicole Koren single. After a walk to Abby Snyder loaded the bases, Elea Crockett hit a ball to the Irish shortstop that was misplayed and allowed Sorber to scamper home with the first run.
Virginia added two runs to its lead in the fifth inning. Kelly Haller started the trouble with a two-out home run to left field. Amy McKean then reached on an error and came in to score the third run on the Sarah Tacke double down the right-field line.
Opportunity presented itself for Notre Dame in the bottom of the fifth inning. Brown reached on a one-out walk. Sophomore Beth Northway (Kentwood, Mich./Kentwood) followed with a single through the left side. Kohan delivered a double to left center to score Brown for the first Irish run of the inning. Freshman Heather Johnson (Los Alamitos, Calif./Mater Dei) followed with a double to score Northway and Kohan and tie the game at three. Junior Katie Laing (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) reached on an error to put two runners aboard. After a ground out, Glasco crushed her first home run of the season, scoring Johnson and Laing, to give Notre Dame a 6-3 advantage.
Brittney Bargar (Corona, Calif./Corona) (6-2) went the first 5 1/3 giving up three runs (one earned) for her sixth win of the season. Senior Kenya Fuemmeler (Salisbury, Mo./Salisbury) pitched out of a sticky situation in the sixth and a scoreless seventh inning to pick up her first save of the season.
Notre Dame will continue its play in the Crispers/JU Invitational with a game against No. 9 Michigan starting at 9 a.m. on March 4.
Irish Notes: Brown extended her on-base streak to all 13 games with her hit in the first inning … Kohan and Johnson each have four RBI on the weekend … the Irish pitching staff has only allowed two earned runs in 21 innings in the tournament.