March 7, 2010
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Notre Dame made quick work of UC Riverside Sunday at Amy Harrison Field and scored 10 runs in a non-conference shutout win to close the Aten Construction Tournament. The Irish (11-4) swept their three games at the event and extended the team’s winning streak to 10 games.
Christine Lux hit her fifth home run of the season and Jody Valdivia (7-2) teamed with Jackie Bowe for the shutout from the circle. Lux, Sadie Pitzenberger and Alexa Maldonado each recorded two of Notre Dame’s 10 hits. Erin Marrone scored three times and was one of eight players to cross the plate on the day. Seven Irish players recorded at least one RBI.
Valdivia (7-2) fanned six and gave up two hits in 4.0 innings, with Bowe cleaning up with a scoreless fifth inning. They were backed by a defense that stranded 10 Highlander (6-11) runners on base.
Alexis Pickett notched both of UC Riverside’s two hits.
Notre Dame travels to CS Northridge Wednesday (March 10) at 1:30 p.m. (PT). Live stats will be available at UND.com.
The Irish scored one run in the second inning and three in the third, fourth and fifth frames.
UC Riverside loaded the bases in the first but left without a run as Valdivia got Lauren Molina to chase a high heater for the third out.
A hard single to second base with two outs and two runners on base in the following inning by Maldonado scored Marrone to give Notre Dame a 1-0 lead.
Pitzenberger’s second leadoff single of the day started the third and she scored when Lux roped a one-out single to left. With Fleury standing on third, Marrone connected for a single through the left side as Notre Dame’s lead increased to 3-0. The third RBI-single of the frame came off the bat of Clay, who brought home Marrone for a second time.
A sailing shot to center in the fourth by Maldonado brought home the fifth Irish run following a Dani Miller double and a Kristina Wright walk. The Pitzenberger stat line was bulked with a sacrifice fly and Fleury added one of her own to plate Maldonado.
Lux’s fifth-inning home run was the first of three Irish runs to close the game. Amy Buntin added an RBI-single to score Marrrone, and Brianna Jorgensborg later crossed home on Buntin’s delayed steal attempt.
–ND–