May 22, 1999
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Nebraska scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth inning to defeat Notre Dame 4-3 in NCAA Regional softball action Saturday at the University of Michigan’s Alumni Field. Notre Dame ends its season with a 42-20 record, while the Cornhuskers (33-20) move on to play Florida Atlantic for the right to face Arizona State in the regional championship Sunday.
The fifth-seeded Irish tied the game at 3-3 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings on Lizzy Lemire’s two-out, two-strike double down the right field line. Lemire’s double scored Jenny Kriech and Amy Laboe from third and second after both reached base on singles to start the inning.
Nebraska, which entered the regional as the second seed, came right back a half an inning later when Jennifer Williams reached base on a fielding error and then came around to score on another Irish error on an overthrow to first base. The Irish threatened in the bottom inning with the bases loaded and two outs, however, Nebraska pitcher Leigh Ann Walker got Irish shortstop Melanie Alkire to ground into a force out at second base to end the game.
The loss to Nebraska was the team’s third of the season to the Cornhuskers and the second of the regional. The Irish lost the regional opener Thursday to Nebraska, 2-0.