ND Softball: Irish look to start new set of streaks today
By MATT LOZAR
Sports Writer
Most teams are satisfied with winning three of four games in a weekend. For the Notre Dame softball team, satisfaction comes from perfection.
This afternoon, Notre Dame looks to get back on track against Indiana State in a non-conference doubleheader. With their 3-0 loss to Syracuse in game two of Sunday's doubleheader, Notre Dame saw their 14-game winning streak, 26-game home winning streak and 36-game Big East regular season winning streak snapped.
"I don't think they felt the pressure of the streaks," said Irish head coach Deanna Gumpf. "Some days teams tend to come out with more energy. On Sunday, we didn't come out with a lot of energy. But, I think [the team] expect[s] to have winning streaks."
The Irish were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base in Sunday's loss, including four in scoring position. Notre Dame managed only eight hits in Sunday's doubleheader and scored three runs. Finding the intensity and energy that allowed the Irish to score more than four runs in 12 of their previous 15 games starts within.
"All of them are doing a little bit of soul-searching right now," Gumpf said. "Everybody is trying to see what they could do better."
First baseman Lisa Mattison currently leads the Big East in hitting with a .444 batting average in league games and .559 on-base percentage. Shortstop Andria Bledsoe is second at .438. Bledsoe leads the league with 14 hits and 11 runs scored.
Steffany Stenglein earned her first Big East award on Monday. The freshman pitcher was named co-Big East Pitcher of the Week. In her 25 innings of work, Stenglein allowed 12 hits, three earned runs and registered 27 strikeouts. Last Tuesday, Stenglein combined with Carrie Wisen for a no-hitter.
On the week, Stenglein was 3-1 with a 0.89 ERA and for the year she is 14-9 with a 1.96 ERA.
Indiana State is 11-25 and has lost 12 in a row. Beating the Irish on their home field is the type of win that could make the Sycamores' season. Indiana State beat Notre Dame on April 18, 2000, the last loss for Notre Dame before Sunday's loss to Syracuse.
"Indiana State is a scrappy team," Gumpf said. "They have a couple of really good hitters and they would love nothing better than to beat Notre Dame."
Leading the Indiana State offense is Sarah Ledmond. The centerfielder is first on the team with a .404 batting average and 46 hits. Catcher Kate Gentile has driven in a team-high 20 runners.
While these games count toward the team's overall record, Gumpf knows the important games occur against Big East teams. These non-conference weekday matchups will allow the Irish to work out some problems and be ready for the weekend.
"In my point of view, the games against Indiana State and Bowling Green are just practice for Virginia Tech," Gumpf said. "That's what really matters. The at-bats we are going to use like batting practice. The groundballs and fly outs are just like defense practice."
Today's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at Ivy Field.
Contact Matt Lozar at mlozar@nd.edu.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, April 17, 2002
