March 4, 2008
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Two doubles by Katie Laing highlighted her 3-for-4 day at the plate and gave the senior the program’s all-time record by bringing her two-bagger total to 50, as the University of Notre Dame softball team totaled 12 hits over UC Riverside to defeat the Highlanders, 8-2, Monday at Amy S. Harrison Field.
Katie Fleury and Linda Kohan each notched two hits apiece and pitcher Brittney Bargar (6-4) picked up the win without giving up an earned run. Jody Valdivia punched in 2.1 frames of relief and fanned four batters.
Laing had a game-high three RBI with Kohan chipping in two more.
Highlander (7-14) starting pitcher Stephanie Marshall (2-5) gave up nine hits in 4.1 innings and was tagged with the loss. Meslissa Alvidrez paced UC Riverside with a pair of base hits.
The Irish began their assault when Kohan connected for a single through the right side in the top of the second. She would make her way to third and eventually score on Ashley Ellis’ two-out single, putting the Irish (7-6) ahead by a 1-0 count.
Two runs on three hits in the third gave the Irish a 3-0 cushion. Consecutive singles by Sarah Smith and Sadie Pitzenberger opened the gates for Laing to drive in two runs with a double down the rightfield line.
UC Riverside posted a pair of unearned runs in the bottom half of the third with RBI-singles by Alvidrez and Kristie Martinez.
Three more runs by way of three hits in the fifth extended Notre Dame’s lead to 6-2. Laing’s 50th career double to left-center scored Beth Northway, who was hit by a pitch two batters earlier. After Fleury scored on a wild pitch, Kohan added a few cheers to her 21st birthday celebration with her second hit of the contest – an RBI-single to left.
Fleury singled to start the seventh and would later score. Ellis drove in Laing to close out the scoring for the Irish.
–ND–