May 2, 2001
The University of Notre Dame softball team (47-3, 16-0 in the BIG EAST) has moved up to eighth in the country in the latest USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll released on May 2. The ranking is the highest the team has ever been ranked in a national poll, eclipsing the ninth spot Notre Dame enjoyed last week.
The Irish improved to 44 games over the .500 mark last week by defeating Illinois-Chicago (8-0), Toledo (11-0 and 1-0, including freshman Kristin Schmidt’s first collegiate no-hitter), Boston College (4-2 and 5-0) and Providence (10-0 and 5-0).
Notre Dame has assured itself a spot in the BIG EAST Championship next weekend (May 10-12) at Villanova University in Philadelphia, Pa.. The Irish will get a chance to play on the Championship field this weekend, when they take on the Wildcats (38-6, 13-3) at 12 p.m. on Friday, May 4. A win in either game on Friday will assure Notre Dame the BIG EAST regular season title.
The team will travel to Rutgers (21-22, 4-12) the next day at 10:30 a.m. for the last regular-season doubleheader of the year.
The seven impressive victories the ninth-ranked Irish earned last week have advanced the team up the NCAA statistical rankings as well. Freshman Kristin Schmidt (Houston, Texas) is now fourth in the nation in ERA (0.41) after her four victories last week. The Irish rookie has not given up a run in eight BIG EAST Conference starts this season.
Schmidt’s 42 strikeouts in 24 innings last week vaulted her into the top 20 in the nation in strikeouts-per-game. Her mark of 9.1 is ranked 18th in the nation.
Leadoff hitter Jenny Kriech (Indianapolis, Ind.) appears on two NCAA lists. Her .387 batting average is 49th in the country and after smacking three triples over the weekend, the junior is now fourth in the country in that category (0.18 triples per game).
Senior All-American Jen Sharron (Agoura Hills, Calif.) also appears in two categories. Her 24 victories are ranked 15th in the country while her ERA (1.04) is 49th.
As a team, Notre Dame has established itself among the leaders in several categories. The team’s .325 batting average is fourth in the country, its 0.81 ERA is sixth in and its 5.32 runs-per-game average is 14th.
The numbers are equally impressive in the Irish won/loss column. The .940 winning percentage (47-3) the team has posted this season is the best in the nation and its current 29-game win streak also is the best in the country.