April 5, 2011
MADISON, Wis. – The Notre Dame softball team scratched out nine straight runs – including five in the fifth inning – Tuesday at Goodman Diamond to hand host Wisconsin a 9-1 non-conference defeat. The Irish (22-7) now look forward to a Thursday home doubleheader with Butler before heading to Syracuse this weekend for a three-game BIG EAST Conference series.
Heather Johnson, the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week, extended her hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the third to drive in Notre Dame’s first run which tied the game at 1-1. She finished 2-for-4 on the day.
Alexa Maldonado paced the Irish with a 3-for-3 showing at the dish while scoring three times.
Amanda Najdek (6-8) tossed the first 4.2 innings for Wisconsin (17-14) and gave up one earned run on six hits. Meghan McIntosh stepped in for relief and the Badgers allowed an unearned run in the fifth when Johnson’s two-out popup fell between the second baseman and right fielder.
Dani Miller smashed a three-run homer later that inning, followed by consecutive triples from Katie Fleury and Amy Buntin to boost Notre Dame’s lead to 6-1.
Alexia Clay made it a 7-1 game in the sixth with a one-out sacrifice fly to deep center which scored Erin Marrone from third, one of three runs in the final inning.
Notre Dame totaled 10 hits as Wisconsin committed four errors while racking three hits.
Laura Winter (12-2) was solid with six strikeouts and three hits allowed in 5.0 innings for the win.
–ND–