University of Louisville
Notre Dame
Notre Dame Stops Cards 3-0
May 08, 2009 | Softball
May 8, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - Second-seeded Notre Dame scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and handed third-seeded Louisville its first shutout of the season as the Irish picked up a 3-0 win in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Softball Championship at Ulmer Stadium.
"We did not play well at all tonight," said U of L head coach Sandy Pearsall. "Credit Brittney Bargar for throwing a great game and they back her with solid defense, but we played sloppy defense and did not make adjustments offensively tonight."
After the game was postponed nearly six hours because of severe thunderstorms in the area, the teams finally got started at 8:05 p.m.They played through four scoreless innings which were highlighted by strong pitching and defense. Still, each team had early chances to score. The Cards stranded a runner on third to open the game. Melissa Roth was hit by a pitch, but three straight groundouts ended the inning.
Notre Dame's Linda Kohan doubled in the bottom of the first and took third on a groundout, but the Irish couldn't convert as Kristen Wadwell delivered a strikeout to end the threat.
The third inning brought another Irish scoring threat when Beth Northway doubled and Kohan singled to place two runners on with one out. Heather Johnson's groundout moved the runners, but Wadwell got Alexia Clay to pop up to shortstop to keep the game scoreless.
The Cards' best chance to score came in the fourth when Kristin Austin registered Louisville's first hit of the game when she beat the throw on a bunt single - she then stole second for her team-leading 17th steal of the season. Colby Wherry walked and Kassie Stanfill's infield single loaded the bases with one out. Notre Dame starter Brittney Barger got Kristi Cunningham to hit into a fielder's choice which saw Austin out at home and then struck out pinch hitter Mandi Rodriguez to get out of the jam.
A three-run fifth broke the game open for the Irish. Alexa Maldonado reached on an error to start the inning. Kohan singled and an error on the play sent Maldonado home to put Notre Dame on the scoreboard. Johnson connected on an RBI double and was lifted for pinch-runner Brianna Jorgensborg who came home on Dani Miller's double to complete the scoring at 3-0.
Cunningham brought a glimmer of hope to the Cardinals when she registered a one-out double in the top of the seventh, but Bargar retired the final two batters to get the win.
Bargar (22-10) stymied the Cardinal offense, holding them scoreless for the first time this season while scattering three hits and fanning three in seven innings. Linda Kohan led the Irish at the plate going 3-for-3 with one run scored.
Kristen Wadwell (40-8) suffered the loss, giving up three runs, only one earned, on eight hits and striking out seven in six innings. Louisville (47-9) will await an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament which will be announced Sunday at 10 p.m. (Eastern).
Notre Dame (40-15) will face No. 1 seed DePaul in the title match of the championship on May 9 at 5:00 p.m. The championship game will begin at 5:00 p.m. on May 9 and will be televised by the CBS College Sports Network. Fans can go to BIG EAST Softball Championship Central for updated information on the championship.
