Softball Beats Auburn, Loses to Oklahoma State

COLUMBUS, Ga.- Notre Dame's softball team went 1-1 Saturday to finish in second place in its pool at the NFCA Leadoff Classic after a 1-0 winover Auburn. The Irish stand at 4-5 on the season and will play for the silver medal on Saturday.

After stranding seven runners in the first three ininngs, the Irish finallly scored in the sixth when Lizzy Lemire scored when Kelly Rowe's grounder was misplayed by the shortstop. Kelly Nichols picked up the second win of the season as she pitched a complete game shut out, allowing just two hits while walking just one batter.

Against Oklahoma State, the Irish allowed a pair of runs in the third inning on three singles and a wild pitch. Notre Dame put runners on first and second with no one out whan a rare triple play ended the ininng. Melanie Melanie Alkire flied out to right, Jenn Giampaolo was tagged out at third attempting to tag up and Lisa Tully was caught in a run down to complete the triple play.

The Irish had first and second with no outs in the fifth but once again could not convert. The Cowgirls scored twice off of Jennifer Sharron in the fifth on two walks, a single and an error. The loss drops Notre Dame into second place in its pool and into the second-place bracket which will be contested on Sunday.