Feb. 15, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of Notre Dame softball team earned an opening day win Friday morning at the Kajikawa Classic hosted by Arizona State. The Irish began the day with a 6-2 win to take down previously undefeated Utah (5-1) at the Tempe Sports Complex. A meeting with No. 1 Arizona was canceled due to rain later in the day.
Brittney Bargar (1-0) took the win after going 7.0 innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs. Utah’s Kara Foster registered a pair of hits off Bargar – both solo home runs – as Notre Dame’s junior pitcher also fanned six batters. Foster nearly had three homers but was robbed in the second inning by leftfielder Ashley Ellis, who made a running catch that carried her through the facility’s temporary fence.
Bargar was aided by 10 hits from the Irish offense in part with a four-run first inning. Eight different players registered hits, led by freshman Sadie Pitzenberger and her 3-for-5 effort. Pitzenberger also notched three stolen bases.
Kicking things off in the first frame for Notre Dame was Christine Lux, who singled home Katie Laing to christen the scoreboard. Then with the bases juiced, Brianna Jorgensborg ripped a three-RBI double down the rightfield line in her first collegiate at-bat to give Notre Dame a 4-0 advantage.
Katie Fleury doubled to center in the fourth to plate Pitzenberger, and Ellis connected for her first career homer – a deep solo shot to center – in the seventh to wrap up the scoring for the Irish.
Play resumes Saturday against Western Kentucky at 2:30 p.m. (MT) and No. 3 Texas A&M at 5:30 p.m.
–ND–