April 23, 2006
The University of Notre Dame softball team (31-13) improved its BIG EAST Conference record to 13-1 and with a dominating doubleheader sweep of Rutgers (12-34, 4-14) at Ivy Field on Sunday afternoon. The Irish won game one 8-0 in five innings, then blanked the Scarlet Knights 7-0 in game two.
It was the final home doubleheader in BIG EAST play for the Irish (road twin bills at USF, Louisville, Seton Hall and St. John’s still loom on the schedule) and the team honored its four-player senior class of pitcher Heather Booth, catcher Mallorie Lenn, short stop Sara Schoonaert and third base Meagan Ruthrauff. The group certainly stepped up to the challege of a big stage.
The biggest news was delivered by Booth, who became the first Irish pitcher to throw a perfect game on her own Senior Day. She baffled the Scarlet Knight batters throughout the first game, striking out four, forcing five pop ups/fly outs and four ground balls. Retiring all 15 batters she faced (and advancing to three balls in the count only twice), Booth earns her first career solo no-hitter to go along with her previous two combined (including one earlier this season with teammate Kenya Fuemmeler).
While Booth’s performance was memorable, the offensive production by her classmates was off the charts as well. Schoonaert finished the day three for six with two runs scored. Lenn was four for seven with five RBI, three runs scored and a home run. Ruthrauff ended up three for six with two runs scored, two RBI and a home run.
Perhaps the top highlight offensively for the Irish senior class came in the bottom of the fifth inning in game one. Needing three runs to end the game early on the eight-run rule, Lenn led off with a no-doubt home run far over the fence in left-centerfield. Before you could even contemplate the possibility of Ruthrauff going back-to-back, she did just that by cranking the first pitch she was offered down the leftfield line for her ninth home run of the year.
A walk, ground out and RBI single from freshman Erin Glasco ended game one early and the seniors – responsible for three RBI, four runs and eight hits in game one ended up being honored between both games.
The Irish offense did equally well in game two, but two double plays with the bases loaded limited just how many runs Notre Dame would score. The big hit in game two came from a senior as well, as Lenn drilled a two-RBI double in the fifth inning to open the flood gates on a five-run inning.
Other offensive starts for the Irish on Sunday were freshman Linda Kohan, classmate Erin Glasco and sophomore Katie Laing. Kohan dominated the doubleheader with two for four performance, two walks, a two-RBI double and a sacrifice fly. Glasco continued to show signs of breaking out of her year-long slump going four for six with three RBI and a double. Laing, who batted leadoff for the first time in her career because junior Stephanie Brown was sidelined with an illness, finished thee for three in game two with two doubles and two runs scored.
Notre Dame will return to action on Wednesday, April 26 when Purdue visits Ivy Field for a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. (EDT).
DOUBLEHEADER NOTES: Heather Booth became the first Irish player to log over 800 innings pitched in a career in game one and now has 802.1 IP to her credit … Sarah Smith started game two for the Irish in leftfield and played well both offensively and defensively … Smith hit the ball hard twice in all three at bats, logging her second career hit in the third inning … Meagan Ruthrauff’s first game at bats ended up as an RBI single, double and solo home run – not bad for a Senior Day performance … Carissa Jaquish continued to step up in conference play, finishing the day three for seven with and RBI.