Fighting Irish Finish Citrus Classic With Third Straight Win

March 6, 2011

Box Score | Box Score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Laura Winter took Fordham by the horns and wrangled her way to a second straight win from the circle as Notre Dame defeated the Rams, 6-0. It was the third consecutive win for the Irish softball team to wrap up the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic at the Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, and Sunday’s effort improved Notre Dame’s overall record to 12-2.

The Irish have one week off before heading to California for a Spring Break extravaganza beginning March 13 with a doubleheader at Cal Poly.

Scoring early and often was Notre Dame, as three runs in the opener provided a comfortable cushion for the duration of the contest.

Katie Fleury singled to third and Heather Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice to pitcher Chelsea Plimpton (4-7), who threw to second too late to catch a speeding Fleury. Dani Miller connected on an RBI-single and Amy Buntin added an RBI with a sacrifice fly. Alexia Clay rounded out the effort with an RBI-single up the gut.

Miller bombed a solo home run in the third to put the Irish ahead by four.

A season-long drought at the dish ended in grand fashion for Kristina Wright in the fourth inning. Wright lined a double to left-center to plate Clay and Jackie Bowe, both of whom had singled with one out.

Sitting on a 6-0 lead, Winter (5-0) made her exit from the circle after blanking the Rams for 4.0 innings. Winter struck out three and permitted four hits without issuing a walk, giving way for Jody Valdivia to toss 2.0 innings of one-hit ball. Brittany O’Donnell put the finishing touches on the shutout with one strikeout in the seventh.

Miller finished 3-for-3 with two RBI and scored twice. Clay totaled two hits.

Nicole Callahan recorded two hits for the Rams (8-10).

–ND–