Irish fall to Michigan, place second at Invite
By RACHAEL PROTZMAN
Sports Writer
Notre Dame softball combined for a season-high record of 16 hits as it finished second in the Boilermaker Invitational over the weekend.
The No. 22 Irish, who improved to 22-8 overall, went 3-1 at Purdue, falling only to the tournament champion No. 13 Michigan.
Junior Melanie Alkire and sophomore Jennifer Kriech led the Irish as they were named to the all-tournament team.
Alkire and Jennifer Sharron led Notre Dame offensively as it grabbed a total of 16 hits to defeat Kent State 12-4 in game on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes grabbed an early lead with four runs in the top of the third before the Irish struck back. Alkire finished the rally with a two-run home run to top the five Irish runs in the bottom of the third. Four more Irish players crossed the plate during the fourth, including two on a double by Alkire.
The Irish grabbed three more runs in the sixth, including two on a home run by Sharron, to put the Golden Flashes away.
Alkire also led Notre Dame defensively, earning the win on the mound, to improve her record to 5-0 on the season. Sophomore Michelle Moshel grabbed the save with six strikeouts and no hits.
In game two action on Saturday, Notre Dame fell to No. 13 Michigan 5-1 for its only loss of the tournament. The Wolverines got revenge for their NCAA Tournament loss to the Irish. Andrea Loman tripled and scored Notre Dame's lone run on an infield single by Andria Bledsoe.
The Irish came on strong in the first game Sunday to defeat Toledo 12-1. The Rockets totaled just three hits while Notre Dame racked up 13.
Kriech kicked off the scoring for the Irish with a double before scoring on an RBI by Alkire in the first. Notre Dame then went up 5-0 with a big second inning.
The Irish grabbed three runs in the third before scoring two more runs in both the fourth and fifth to finish the Rockets.
After a split decision last week at home, the Irish came back to show Purdue who is in charge with a 4-0 win. The victory clinched second place in the tournament for Notre Dame.
The game was scoreless through the fourth. Danielle Klayman, who finished 3-for-3, singled in the fifth and scored on a RBI single by Kriech to give Notre Dame its first run. Bledsoe and Alkire each added an RBI single to aid the Irish.
Pitcher Sharron earned her 11th win of the season (11-4) and seventh solo shutout while allowing just two hits and striking out seven.
Notre Dame next plays on Wednesday, when it will host a doubleheader with Eastern Michigan starting at 4 p.m.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, March 28, 2000
