April 11, 2006
The University of Notre Dame softball team improved to 24-12 on the season and 8-1 at Ivy Field with a 6-0 victory over Ball State (9-17) on a very windy Tuesday afternoon. The Irish jumped on the Cardinals with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, then added three more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth.
While Notre Dame’s three-run first inning, keyed by extra base hits from sophomore Katie Laing and freshman Linda Kohan, led to the team’s victory, the most memorable hit in the game was delivered by sophomore Brittany Glynn. Forced into action due to injury, Glynn stepped up with her first career hit in five at bats. She tomahawked a home run down the leftfield line in the bottom of the sixth inning to provide the top game highlight for the Irish.
All three Irish pitchers saw action in the game. Senior Heather Booth led off and earned the victory with four innings of no-hit work, striking out five and walking one. Junior Kenya Fuemmeler worked the fifth and sixth innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Freshman Brittney Bargar finished off the seventh with a walk and two strikeouts. Booth posted her 13th victory of the year (13-8) in the game.
Notre Dame scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning – with all the hits coming with two outs on the scoreboard. Senior Mallorie Lenn doubled into left-centerfield and senior Meagan Ruthrauff drew a walk to put two runners on for Laing. The Irish second base drilled a triple into the right-centerfield gap for her 15th and 16th RBI of the year. Kohan followed by dropping a double down the rightfield line to drive in Laing and put the Irish ahead to stay 3-0.
While the Irish pitching staff kept Ball State from mounting any serious pressure, Notre Dame waited until the sixth inning to tack on three more runs. Kohan started the inning with a leadoff single, junior Gessica Hufnagle followed with her own single to leftfield. Both runners moved up on a ground ball out and pinch runner Beth Northway (who entered for Kohan) scored on a ground ball by freshman hiut by Stephanie Mola that was dropped by BSU pitcher Laura Masch. Northway, who was going on contact, would have scored on the play but Mola reached first base safely on the error.
After Mola was caught stealing, Glynn followed with her big hit to drive in the final two runs of the game.
Amanda Pick pitched the first four innings of the game for Ball State and suffered her fourth loss of the season (4-5). Masch finished off the final two innings.
Notre Dame will return to action on Thursday, April 13, when they play host to DePaul for a BIG EAST doubleheader at 4:00 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Katie Laing finished the game two for three with a triple, double and run scored … Linda Kohan also had two hits, going two for two with an RBI double … junior Stephanie Brown was hit in the shoulder by a foul ball in the dugout and missed the rest of the game … Brown was not hurt seriously and is listed as day-to-day … junior Carissa Jaquish was hit by a foul ball as well, but will be able to return to the lineup immediately … Notre Dame’s pitchers combined for their 12th shutout of the season.