University of Connecticut Athletics
Notre Dame Dominates in Two Wins Over the Huskies
4/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
, - Game 1
, - Game 2
NOTRE DAME, IN (April 2) – The offensive strength of Notre Dame proved overpowering, as the Irish defeated the University of Connecticut softball team by scores of 9-1 and 10-0 on Friday afternoon. Notre Dame’s Stephanie Brown hit a grand slam as part of a seven-run fourth inning by the Irish in game two.
The losses drop the Huskies to 13-14 overall and 1-3 in the BIG EAST, while Notre Dame improves to 26-10 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
The Huskies tied game one with a run in the second inning, but the game was all Notre Dame from there, who eventually run-ruled UConn in the bottom of the sixth. Notre Dame’s Nicole deFau doubled in the bottom of the first and later scored by stealing home. In the top of the second, Suzy de Bary (Roxbury, Conn.) drove in the Huskies’ lone run with a RBI single.
UConn held off the Irish for one more inning, but Notre Dame then scored at least one run in each of the final four innings, starting with a lone run in the third on a RBI single by Megan Ciolli. The Irish followed with a four-run fourth inning, including a two RBI homer from Stephanie Brown.
The Huskies got themselves in solid scoring position in the top of the fifth, as de Bary walked, Holly Calcagno (Cedar Grove, N.J.) singled, and Jen Ward (Gales, Ferry, Conn.) was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded and no outs, Notre Dame’s Heather Booth struck out back-to-back batters, and a pop up followed to end the inning and the comeback chances for the Huskies.
Notre Dame’s Mallorie Lenn hit a home run in the fifth to put the score at 7-1, but UConn avoided further damage with a double play to end the inning. The Irish finished the game with a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth, as three consecutive hits including a triple by deFau allowed Notre Dame to go up 9-1 and end the game with the mercy rule.
Booth went the distance for the Irish in game one, striking out six batters and walking one. Jessica Gurney (Williamstown, Mass.) and Krista Michalczyk (Salem, N.H.) split time in the circle for UConn, with Gurney striking out four and Michalczyk fanning one, and neither giving up a walk.
Brown’s grand slam was one of two home runs knocked out by the Irish in the second game of the doubleheader, as Notre Dame run-ruled UConn in just five innings. Meagan Ruthrauff hit a homer in the bottom of the first to put Notre Dame up 3-0, and recorded a fourth RBI in the seven-run fourth inning on a single. Liz Hartmann also recorded two RBI in the inning with a double to right field.
Senior Maggie Arbogast (Ambler, Pa.) and Calcagno recorded the lone hits for UConn in game two, as the Huskies were out-hit 8 to 2 by the Irish.
Steffany Stenglein pitched the full five innings for Notre Dame, while all three UConn pitchers saw time in the game, with sophomore Michelle Caouette (Wynantskill, N.Y.) recording the loss.
The Huskies will return to action on Sunday, April 4 when they travel to BIG EAST opponent Syracuse for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.
