April 11, 2009
STORRS, Conn. – Seven hits for extra bases – including four home runs – vaulted the Notre Dame softball team to a 12-4 BIG EAST Conference win over Connecticut Saturday at the UC Softball Complex. Pitcher Brittney Bargar (15-8) gave up four runs on five hits while just one Husky (23-12, 7-6 BIG EAST) runner got on base by means of an Irish error through the first three innings and change.
Back-to-back one-out doubles by Linda Kohan and Heather Johnson scored the first run of an opening inning that saw each Irish (25-13, 9-3) batter make a plate appearance. Christine Lux brought home Johnson with a bomb to center one at-bat later. Katie Fleury and Erin Marrone were on base when Alexia Clay kept the rally going with a three-run high riser that landed over the left field fence.
The 6-0 lead expanded in the fourth with Beth Northway’s solo home run that landed next to Clay’s in left field. Bargar gave up a pair of runs in the fourth as UConn registered its first hit of the game on an Amy Deluca single up the middle.
Ahead 7-2, Marrone beat out a grounder to short, and she would score from third on Kohan’s single through the left side in the sixth inning.
Notre Dame’s fourth home run of the game capped off a four-run seventh inning. Brianna Jorgensborg, who entered the lineup midway through the contest, went opposite yard for a two-run shot. Jorgensborg was 2-for-2 on the day as Kohan led the Irish with three hits. Clay had two hits and four RBI.
Justyne Roy had one hit and two RBI for UConn. Tricia Sullivan (14-7) started the game for UConn and lasted 4.0 innings. She gave up seven earned runs on eight hits before she was pulled for Ali Adelman, who gave up five runs on five hits.
Bargar went 7.0 innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts.
A steady rain persisted through the latter innings of game one, and continued throughout the afternoon to force the cancelation of game two.
–ND–