March 9, 2008
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Freshman Sadie Pitzenberger connected on a fifth-inning double that plated a pair of runs to propel the University of Notre Dame softball team to its 3-1 non-conference win over Cal State Northridge on Sunday. The win at the 49er Softball Complex – which was Notre Dame’s third consecutive victory – improved the team’s overall record to 10-8 while closing out competition at the Long Beach State Invitational.
Pitcher Brittney Bargar (8-5) struckout five batters while letting only a single earned run cross the plate for the Matadors. The Irish tagged Matador starter Mercedes Lovato (8-7) for seven hits including doubles by Pitzenberger and Katie Fleury.
The Irish offense was led by Sarah Smith and Ashley Ellis who both registered a pair of singles. Ellis added one RBI.
Jacki Duree scored for the Matadors in the opening inning. She singled to start things off and gained a base on a fielder’s choice. When Tracy Allen beat out a bunt, Duree scored all the way from second to give CS Northridge a 1-0 lead.
Pitzenberger came through with her fifth-inning double down the leftfield line that scored Ellis and Brianna Jorgensborg. Her table was set by Linda Kohan who led the frame by being hit with a pitch, then she was replaced on the basepath by Jorgonsborg. Pitzenberger’s two-bag rope came after Ellis and Smith each singled to load the bases.
Ellis returned the favor by driving in Beth Northway with a single to center in the bottom of the sixth to give the Irish a 3-1 lead.
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