March 13, 2009
FULLERTON, Calif. – Seven unanswered runs helped the Notre Dame softball team dig itself out of an early 3-0 deficit Friday evening at Anderson Field to post a 7-3 victory over Pacific in the second day of the Judi Garman Classic. Christine Lux, Katie Fleury and Beth Northway each homered as Notre Dame recorded nine hits in the contest.
Brittney Bargar (6-4) got the complete-game win with five strikeouts while giving up six hits, and the Irish defense stood strong to help strand seven Tigers on base. Pacific’s Chelsea Engle (5-6) tossed the first 4.2 innings and took the loss after giving up seven hits and six earned runs.
Casey Goldsand started the game with an infield single and the Tigers (10-11) got a lift with Nicole Matson’s two-run home run.
Pacific stretched its lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Lindsey Pierce singled up the middle to score Lauren Weyman from second.
Notre Dame (8-8) got its lead-off batter on base when Alexa Maldonado singled in the home half of the fourth. She trotted home in front of Katie Fleury, who left no doubt with a homer down the left field line.
Beth Northway had two strikes against her during her pinch-hit appearance in the fifth, and she made the Tigers pay with a bomb to left field, tying the contest at 3-3. That provided the offensive spark the Irish needed, as Maldonado was hit by a pitch and Fleury singled to right. A bloop single to left by Heather Johnson plated Maldonado for Notre Dame’s fourth run of the game. Pacific moved Heidi Helberg to the circle and her first pitch was demolished by Christine Lux for a three-run jack to finish off the five-score frame.
Fleury scored twice and Lux had a game-high three RBI. Matson had two hits to lead Pacific.
Notre Dame faces Arizona at 3:30 p.m. (PT) on Saturday. Live stats will be available at UND.com.
–ND–