March 26, 1998

Softball Sweeps Doubleheader against Loyola Chicago

Irish pound out 27 hits.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Notre Dames softball team pounded out 27 hits in 12 innings at bat and improved to 11-14 with an 8-4 and 7-5 doubleheader sweep against Loyola (Chicago) on Thursday at Ivy Field. Tara King smacked a three-run double in the first game and Kris McCleary had a two-run double in the second game to provide the key hits for the Irish. Freshman Jennifer Sharron and junior Angela Bessolo pitched complete games to pick up the wins.

The Irish opened up a six-run lead in the first game, keyed by Kings two-out double in the first inning. Melanie Alkire hit a two-out, two-run single in the second and Lisa Tully hit a two-out double in the third to score Danielle Klayman for the 6-0 lead after three innings. The Ramblers rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth before Notre Dame scored single runs in the fifth and sixth to put the game away.

Loyola jumped out to a 1-0 in the first inning of game two before McClearys second-inning double to put the Irish in front. Jenn Giampaolo then drove in Korrie Allen for a 3-1 lead after two innings.

The Ramblers fought back once again to tie the score at 3-3 with two runs in the top of the third inning. Sarah Mathison scored on a wild pitch to give the Irish a 4-3 lead after three innings but Loyola fought back to tie the score at 4-4 with a run in the top of the fourth inning.

McCleary singled to score Mathison for what would be the winning run in the top of the fifth. Notre Dame added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth and held off Loyola in the seventh after the Ramblers plated a run for the final 7-5 margin.

Sharron scattered nine hits and allowed four runs as she improved to 4-4. Bessolo struck out eight batters and yielded four earned runs as she improved to 2-6 on the season. The Irish open the 1998 BIG EAST season with a three-game series at Rutgers this weekend.

Loyola      000  040  0 4   9 1
Notre Dame  321  011  x 8  13 1

Jennifer Sharron and Kris McCleary. Sarah Monaco, Korrie Klier (2) and Jacki Geraci. WP-Sharron 4-4. LP-Monaco 1-1.
2B-Yasmin Kahn (LU), Tara King (ND), Lisa Tully (ND).

Loyola      102  100  1 5   5   0
Notre Dame  031  012  x 7  14   3

Angela Bessolo and Kris McCleary. Abbie Boudreau, Erin Smith (2) and Jacki Geraci.
WP-Bessolo 2-6. LP-Smith 0-2.
2B-Jenn Giampaolo (ND), Melanie Alkire (ND), McCleary (ND), Kelly Nichols (ND).