March 15, 2007
FULLERTON, Calif.- Notre Dame’s softball team (8-9) had its bats silenced in dropping a tough 3-0 decision to No. 2/4 Arizona State (28-2) on the first day of the prestigious Judi Garman Classic on Thursday, March 15 in Fullerton, Calif. at the Titan Softball Complex.
The story of the game was Arizona State pitcher Katie Burkhart. Burkhart was masterful in throwing her first career perfect game with 13 strikeouts.
The Sun Devils took the early lead with a pair of runs in the second. Cayln Carlson led off the frame with her fourth home run of the season for the first run of the game. Rhiannon Baca then walked, moved to second on a pass ball and took third on the fielding error by the Irish second baseman. Heidi Knabe would drive-in Baca with a ground out to the shortstop.
Arizona State was in prime position to add to the lead in the third inning with Mindy Cowles hitting a lead-off double and then stealing third base but Irish sophomore Brittney Bargar (Corona, Calif./Corona) was up to the challenge and retired the next three in order to keep the score at 2-0.
The scored remained the same until the fifth when Baca hit her fifth home run of the season to give Arizona State a 3-0 advantage.
Bargar did a great job of keeping the Irish in the game. The sophomore threw her ninth complete game of the season, striking out eight with three runs allowed (two earned).
Notre Dame continues its play in the Judi Garman Classic with a pair of games on the second day, March 16. The Irish will face Fresno State (1:30 p.m. (PT)) and No. 17/16 Louisiana-Lafayette (8:30 p.m. (PT)).
Irish Notes: This was Notre Dame’s fifth loss of the season against a team that was ranked in the top 10 … the loss dropped the Irish to 2-4 in blue uniforms this year … this was the first Notre Dame loss on a Thursday this season.