March 10, 2012
LAKEWOOD, Calif. – Sophomore pitcher Laura Winter went the distance, allowing one run on two hits, and the Irish scored seven runs in the first two innings to help power the Notre Dame softball team to an 8-1 win over Oregon State in the first game of the Long Beach Invite for the Irish.
The Irish, who avenged a 3-2 setback to the Beavers from the season’s opening weekend, jumped all over OSU starting pitcher Tina Andreana from the beginning, plating four runs before the Beavers had recorded an out in the first inning.
Alexa Maldonado opened the contest with a double, and was advanced to third on a Kelsey Thornton bunt single. After a steal by Thornton, Amy Buntin clocked a single to score Maldonado. Up stepped Dani Miller, who promptly knocked a double to left field, pushing Thornton and Buntin across home plate. That would be all for Andreana, who was replaced by teammate Paige Hall. Hall gave up a single to Koerner, scoring Miller to end the Irish scoring in the first.
The Irish added to their lead in the second, when Buntin hit a three-run bomb over the left field fence to push the lead to 7-0.
Buntin later tacked on an RBI single in the fourth to close out the scoring for the Irish.
That would be aplenty for Winter, as the San Diego, Calif., product gave up just two hits while striking out nine Oregon State batters. The lone run that crossed the plate was unearned in the fifth inning. She struck out the side in the first and had six Ks through three innings.
Leading the way for the Irish was Buntin, who went 3-for-3 with a homer, five RBI and two runs scored. Maldonado scored three runs, while Miller had a pair of hits and two RBI.
Notre Dame returns to action on Sunday with a pair of contests. The Irish meet Charleston Southern at 10:30 a.m. (PT), before playing UNLV at 1:00 p.m. (PT). Both games can be followed via live stats, with links provided on UND.com.
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