March 30, 2010
CHICAGO, Ill. – Loyola-Chicago sandwiched a two-run fifth inning between outputs of three runs in both the third and sixth frames to hand No. 24 Notre Dame an 8-0 non-conference softball defeat Tuesday at Loyola Softball Park. Notre Dame fell to 24-6 while the Ramblers improved to 7-12 overall.
Pitcher Jody Valdivia (18-3) suffered her first loss since February, snapping a 17-game winning streak from the circle. Her last defeat came against No. 1 Washington in the season’s opening week. Valdivia struck out eight and gave up five earned runs in 5.0 innings. Brittany O’Donnell pitched in the sixth and final inning, giving up three earned runs on one hit.
Sadie Pitzenberger doubled to right-center in the first to extend her school-record hitting streak to 25 games. Katie Fleury also had a hit and Alexa Maldonado tacked on a team-high two singles.
Notre Dame was out-hit, 8-4. Angie Funston went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI for Loyola-Chicago. Brooke Andresen scored twice on two hits.
Hilary Payne (1-2) got the shutout win with one strikeout.
–ND–