Feb. 19, 2006
The University of Notre Dame softball team fell to 2-3 on the season with a 9-3 loss to CS Fullerton in the final game of the UNLV Desert Classic for both teams.
Notre Dame posted six hits in the contest, including two home runs – one from senior Meagan Ruthrauff and another from freshman Linda Kohan. Kohan’s solo home run in the fourth inning was the rookie’s third of the year and highlighted a three for four performance.
Fullerton jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning on a single, hit by pitch and three-run home run by Ashlee Van Boxmeer. Unfortunately for the Irish, Van Boxmeer’s big hit was just the first of the game for the Titan leftfielder. She tacked two more runs on CS Fullerton’s lead in the third inning with a two-run shot to centerfield.
Notre Dame came back to cut the lead to 5-2 on the solo home runs by Ruthrauff and Kohan in the fourth inning, but CS Fullerton responded with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth off the bat of rightfield Jenna Wheeler.
CS Fullerton’s ninth run came on an illegal pitch in the top of the first, while Notre Dame scratched across a run in the bottom of the seventh when Kohan doubled and scored on an RBI single by senior Mallorie Lenn.
Senior Heather Booth suffered the pitching loss for Notre Dame, allowing four runs in 2 1/3 innings. Freshman Brittany Bargar and junior Kenya Fuemmeler also saw time in the pitching circle. Fuemmeler proved effective late in the game, allowing one run in three innings.
Notre Dame will be back in action next weekend with tournament action at Florida International.