Feb. 17, 2002
The University of Notre Dame softball team finished up competition in the Pepsi Arizona Classic with a 5-3 victory over #25 South Florida (5-9-1) on Sunday. The 14th-ranked Irish are now 3-2 on the season and look forward to next weekend’s National Fastpitch Coaches Association Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.
Megan Ciolli and Jarrah Myers keyed the Irish offense in the game, each posting two hits. Ciolli moved Jenny Kriech over with a sacrifice bunt in the first inning and Kriech eventually scored on an Andrea Loman single to put the Irish up 1-0.
The Irish tacked on two more runs in the third inning after Kriech reached on an error by the South Florida shortstop. Ciolli followed with a single to rightfield that jumped through the legs of the Bulls rightfield and Kriech came all the way around to score, while Ciolli moved to third. Loman followed by drawing a walk and Jarrah Myers came through with a single to left field on a 0-2 pitch to drive in the third Irish run of the ballgame.
Notre Dame continued the pressure in the fourth. Lisa Mattison led off with a single and pinch runner Nicole deFau stole second base. After an Annie Dell’Aria pop out, Alexis Madrid drilled a single up the middle to score deFau. The Irish added another unearned run when a Kriech ground ball went through the legs of the South Florida second base, allowing Madrid to score.
Carrie Wisen started the game for the Irish and pitched the first three innings, giving way to Steffany Stenglein in the top of the fourth. Stenglein worked the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, giving up just one run and striking out four.
South Florida would eventually load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh and Wisen returned to save the game she had started. Stenglein picked up the victory for her second of the season.