Senior Meagan Ruthrauff finished two for three with two runs scored against Toledo on Wednesday, April 19.

Softball Eases Past Toledo For Win No. 27

April 19, 2006

Box Score

The University of Notre Dame softball team (27-13) posted a workman-like performance on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon at Ivy Field to claim a 5-0 victory over Toledo (12-29) and put the still lingering bad taste of a late loss to #17 Northwestern less than 24 hours before behind them. The Irish will head back to conference play this weekend with twin doubleheaders against Villanova (Saturday) and Rutgers (Sunday).

It was not the most dominating performance by the Irish this season, nor was it the most disappointing. Notre Dame posted nine hits in the contest, led by seniors Sara Schoonaert and Meagan Ruthrauff with two hits apiece. Freshman pitcher Brittany Bargar held the Rockets to four hits in the game and struck out seven to earn her 13th win of the year with a solid six innings of work. Junior Kenya Fuemmeler completed the shutout by working an uneventful seventh inning.

Stephanie Moore took the loss for Toledo and fell to 6-16 on the season. She worked four innings, giving up four this, two runs and striking out two. Sierra Pereira finished off the game with two innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs. First base Leslie Stong led the Rocket offense with two hits from the leadoff position.

After a quick three scoreless innings by both teams to begin the game, Notre Dame finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth when Schoonaert led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Mallorie Lenn. Ruthrauff stepped in next and singled to leftfield. Schoonaert was forced to hold up on the play and could only advance to third base. Ruthrauff, however, moved to second when the Rocket defense threw home in an effort to keep Schoonaert from scoring.

Sophomore Katie Laing took advantage of the RBI opportunity with a fundamental deep ground ball out to the right side. Schoonaert easily scored on the play and Ruthrauff advanced to third base for freshman Linda Kohan.

Working the count by fouling off a few pitches, Kohan straightened out a laser beam single to centerfield to drive in Ruthrauff and Notre Dame’s second run of the contest.

Notre Dame tacked on another run in the fifth inning when Carissa Jaquish led off with an infield single. Freshman Erin Glasco attempted to move her over with a sacrifice bunt, but the throw was dropped at first base – allowing Glasco to reach and Jaquish the chance to advance all the way to third base.

The Irish rotated back to the top of the order for junior Stephanie Brown. She hit the ball hard, but straight at Toledo short stop Gina Muratori who made the catch and doubled pinch runner Sarah Smith off first base.

Schoonaert made sure the RBI opportunity would not go to waste, however, lofting a single into leftfield to drive in Jaquish.

Two more insurance runs were delivered in the bottom of the sixth inning when junior Gessica Hufnagle drilled the first pitch she was offered to centerfield for a two-RBI single. Ruthrauff (who singled) and Laing (who doubled) both scored on the play.