May 19, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill.- Sophomore Brittney Bargar (Corona, Calif./Corona) pitched well for Notre Dame’s (32-24) softball team in a 3-1 loss to Illinois State (44-16-1) in the Evanston Regional of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, May 19. The Irish had their season ended with the loss to the Redbirds.
Bargar allowed all three runs on six hits with five strikeouts. For the sophomore it was her 28th complete game of the season.
The Irish put two runners on in the first inning with two outs, as junior Katie Laing (Chandler, Ariz./Corona del Sol) reached on a fielder’s choice and freshman Heather Johnson (Los Alamitos, Calif./Mater Dei) blasted a ball up the middle but Stacy Birk struck out the final Irish batter to escape the inning.
The Redbirds broke through for a run in their half of the first. Tiffany Prager singled through the right side and went to third on Jessie Buker single to centerfield. A wild pitch would bring Prager home with the first run of the game.
Notre Dame tied the game with a run in the second. Freshman Christine Lux (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard West) was hit by pitch, sophomore Beth Northway (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) then roped a single to right field to put two runners on base. Both runners moved up a base on a senior Carissa Jaquish (Highland, Calif./Redlands East Valley) sacrifice. Bargar was then inserted into the lineup to bat and grounded out to drive in Lux and tie the game at one all.
ISU untied the game in the third inning with a run. Jackie Williams started the trouble, as she was hit by a pitch on a two-strike count. Kara Nelson bunted for a hit to put two runners on base. A one-out intentional walk to Amber Smith loaded the bases. Buker then hit a long fly to drive in Jackie Williams with the second run of the game.
The Irish attempted to put together a two-out rally in the top of the fourth inning, as Northway doubled to left center but a strikeout ended the inning.
Bargar pitched out of a leadoff double jam in the fifth by getting a groundout, a pop out and fly out to keep the game 2-1.
Notre Dame had a late chance to score in the sixth inning. Johnson walked and Lux was hit by pitch, for the second time in the game, to put runners on first and second with two outs. Birk once again stepped her game up and struck out the final Irish batter to keep the game at 2-1.
Kaprice Williams gave ISU an insurance run with her one-out home run in the sixth inning.