University of Connecticut Athletics
Softball Falls to Notre Dame
4/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game 1 box -
Game 2 box -
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (April 27, 2008) - The University of Connecticut softball team dropped two competitive games to Notre Dame on Sunday. The Huskies fell in game one 8-5, before dropping game two by a 3-2 score. UConn is now 25-21 overall and 11-7 in the BIG EAST. The Fighting Irish are 34-17-1 and 12-6.
Connecticut had the challenge of facing Notre Dame pitcher Brittney Bargar in both games. She came into the day with a 24-10 record and a 0.92 ERA. Despite this, the Huskies jumped on her early in game one with three runs in the top of the first. With the bases loaded, Melissa Lucas (Methuen, Mass.) walked to bring home a run. The next batter, Sarah Neuschwander (Chugiak, Alaska) singled to score two more runs.
After the Irish scored one in the bottom of the first, Allie Gendron (Belchertown, Mass.) hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot, that gave UConn a 5-1 lead. Notre Dame scored one run in each of the next two innings, then tied the game at five in the bottom of the fourth when an error by Neuschwander scored two runs.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth when Brianna Jorgensborg led off the inning with a home run. A two-run double to right center by Linda Kohan made it 8-5 and clinched the win for the Irish.
In game one, Jillian Ortega (Aberdeen, N.J.) was the top hitter for the Huskies, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Notre Dame took a 3-0 lead in game two with one run in each of the first three innings. From there Connecticut starter Rachael Crossin (Fairless Hills, Pa.) settled down, keeping the Irish off the board for the rest of the game.
UConn got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Lucas singled to score Micah Truax (South Glen Falls, N.Y) and cut the Husky deficit to 3-1.
It stayed that way until the top of the seventh when Truax led of the inning with her team leading seventh home run of the year. Bargar was able to retire the next three Huskies in order however, and the Irish came away with a 3-2 win.
In game two, Truax was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Crossin pitched six innings, allowing three runs while striking out five.
UConn travels to Massachusetts on Tuesday for their final non-conference game of the regular season. Game time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
