April 11, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Jody Valdivia hurled a one-hitter with six strikeouts in 7.0 innings to lead No. 23 Notre Dame past visiting USF, 2-0, Sunday at Melissa Cook Stadium. Valdivia’s 13th shutout of the season boosted Notre Dame’s record to 29-6 overall and 8-0 against BIG EAST Conference opponents.
The Irish swept the three-game series from USF (18-19, 3-3) to run the team’s winning streak over the Bulls to five contests following a two-game sweep in 2009.
Valdivia (22-3) finished the series with two wins and an ERA of 1.00 in 14.0 innings of action.
Notre Dame out-hit USF, 3-1, but both of its runs were scored on sacrifice flies. Katie Fleury and Dani Miller each drove in runs with fly balls to the outfield.
USF hurler Kristen Gordon (4-5), who gave up two earned runs on three hits, walked the bases loaded in the fourth. Both she and Valdivia had perfect games entering the inning. Miller flied out to center to score Fleury from third for Notre Dame’s first run.
USF got its only hit of the game in the top of the fifth, a single by Alison Savarese. The Bulls loaded the bags with no one out but the Irish defense stayed calm behind Valdivia. Valdivia induced a pair of poppers and struck out Alexis Nowell in a 12-pitch at-bat.
Brianna Jorgensborg doubled to the wall in left-center in the fifth – her second two-bagger on the weekend – and Alexa Maldonado followed with a single to right-center. Sadie Pitzenberger was intentionally walked to load the bags, and Fleury stepped up to drive Jorgensborg home with a shot to right.
Miller added a single in the sixth inning. She had three putouts and three assists in the game and finished the series with three hits.
Notre Dame stays at home for a midweek doubleheader with Georgetown (April 14) and one game with Cleveland State (April 15) before heading to Louisville (April 17-18). The Irish have won each of their nine home games this season.
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