Feb. 24, 2006
The University of Notre Dame softball team won its second game in a row for the first time in 2006 late Friday night with a 5-0 five-inning, rain-shortened victory over Florida International in the adidas Golden Panther Invitational. The Irish improve to 4-3 win the victory, while the host team falls to 4-8.
Senior Heather Booth picked up her first victory of the season with an outstanding performance. After watching rookie Brittney Bargar shut down Buffalo in the first game of the day (1-0 Notre Dame win), Booth was close to untouchable against FIU. She game up two hits (one of which was a simple bloop single), walked one, struck out nine and flashed signs of her All-America potential.
On offense, Notre Dame did everything required to earn the victory. It was selective, but aggressive at the plate. It executed on sacrifice hits and took the extra base when the defense was caught napping. Highlights from the game included RBIs from freshman Linda Kohan, junior Katie Laing, senior Meagan Ruthrauff and junior Gessica Hufnagle. Laing also posted a double in the fifth inning.
After two quiet innings, Notre Dame tacked three runs on the board in the top of the third. Hufnagle drew a lead off walk (her fourth of the day combined with three against Buffalo) and reached second when freshman Alexandra Kotcheff’s ground ball out was dropped at first base.
Brown stepped in next and drilled a ball down the line that was destined for extra bases. Unluckily for the visiting team, the ball struck the third base bag and popped up in the air. All the runners were safe on the play and the bases were loaded for the hot-hitting Kohan.
Kohan came through, but in rudimentary fashion with an RBI ground ball to second base. Laing then followed with an RBI single through the right side to score the second run of the game. Ruthrauff ended up driving in Notre Dame’s third run on an RBI ground ball and the Irish were suddenly ahead 3-0.
The team added two more runs in the fourth inning. Senior Sara Schoonaert, robbed of a hit in the second inning on a scalding line drive to third base, reached on a bunt single. Junior Carissa Jaquish moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Hufnagle came through with an RBI single up the middle. Notre Dame’s fifth run came on a two-base throwing error by Florida International on a ground ball from Brown. The mistake allowed Hufnagle to score from third bases (which she had reached on a wild pitch).
Booth would shut the door on any home team rally, even as the rain began to fall. She retired FIU in order in the first (three strikeouts), third and fifth innings to lead her team to a 2-0 start in the tournament.
As the rain continued, the game was halted in the top of the sixth inning. The Irish had already scored another run and boasted runners on second and third with one out. Softball rules, however, dictate that in a rain-shortened game, the statistics revert to the last equal inning played – which was the fifth.
Notre Dame will continue action on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. against Memphis. The Irish also will face Florida International in a rematch tomorrow afternoon.