Irish tame Wildcats, sweep doubleheader
By RACHAEL PROTZMAN
Sports Writer
The Notre Dame softball team combined a spectacular pitching performance with a strong offense this weekend as it topped Villanova in a doubleheader on Sunday.
"I was pleased with our players playing real hard. Our pitching staff did a great job and we hit the ball hard all day," said head coach Liz Miller.
The No. 21 Irish improve to 29-9 overall and 5-1 in the Big East after the weekend play.
Junior Melanie Alkire kicked off the Irish 9-0 win in game one with a single up the middle to drive in a run. Alkire then scored as freshman Andrea Loman slammed a homerun to left field to give the Irish a 3-0 lead after the first.
Notre Dame completed the scoring in the second with doubles by Jennifer Krisch and Jennifer Sharron and an infield single by Andria Bledsoe who drove in two runs.
Sharron earned her 15th win as she combined with Alkire to allow just one Villanova hit, striking out six of the 11 Wildcats she faced. Loman and Danielle Klayman both had perfect games with Loman finishing 3-for-3 at the plate while Klayman finished at 2-for-2.
In game two action, the Irish grabbed a 5-1 win over the Wildcats. Notre Dame took the lead in the second with three runs before Alkire doubled to center with two outs to send in two more Irish runs.
Villanova fought back in the fifth as it scored for the first time in the past five games against the Irish.
Pitcher Michelle Moshel moved to 8-4 while striking out nine and allowing just three hits.
"I was pleased with our players playing real hard. Our pitching staff did a great job and we hit the ball hard all day," Miller said.
The Irish were coming off a 6-1 win over Western Michigan on Thursday.
With a scoreless game through 4 1/2 innings, the Broncos scored their lone run on an inside the park homerun. The Irish struck back in the fifth with Alkire, Loman, Klayman and Lizzy Lemire combining to drive in four runs to give Notre Dame the lead. Loman tripled in the sixth to drive in two more runs and secure the Irish wins.
Sharron earned the win with seven strikeouts while Klayman had a perfect Irish offense with 4-for-4 at the plate.
The Irish play again Wednesday as they host Butler in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. and on Thursday in a doubleheader against DePaul at 3 p.m.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, April 11, 2000
