Softball Drops Two At Notre Dame

Villanova will enter the 2002 Big East Championship as the No. 2 seed.

Sophomore Lisa Krueger broke up a no-hitter in the top of the fourth in game two with a double to center field.

May 5, 2002

NOTRE DAME, IND. ----- The Villanova softball team was swept by the University of Notre Dame in its final Big East regular season double-header on Sunday, May 5. Notre Dame won both games convincingly taking game one, 9-1 in five innings, and game two, 9-1 in six innings. With the two victories Notre Dame (38-14 overall, 18-2 Big East) earns the Big East regular season title and No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big East Championships. With the two losses, Villanova (44-13 overall, 14-6 Big East) earns the No. 2 seed and will open the Big East post-season tournament versus the No. 3 seed, which has yet to be determined.

Game #1: VILLANOVA 1, Notre Dame 9 (5 inn.)
Notre Dame's Andrea Loman knocked her ninth home run of the season over the left field fence to give the Fighting Irish a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. It was only the second homer Villanova pitcher Theresa Hornick (Edmonds, Wash.) allowed in over 100 innings of conference play.

Villanova responded in the second inning. Freshman Allison Wisniewski (Smithtown, N.Y.) led off with a single to right field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Heather Garboden (Beaverton, Ore.). Senior Karen Niwinksi (Newtown, Pa.) hit an infield single allowing Wisniewski to reach third base. Wisniewski scored the lone Wildcat run on a muffed throw by the Notre Dame first baseman tying the score at 1-1.

The Fighting Irish quickly responded in the bottom half of the second with a two-run home run by Liz Hartman. Hartman's seventh homer of the season put Notre Dame back on top, 3-1, a lead the Irish would not surrender.

Notre Dame scored two runs in the third inning and four runs in the fifth as it pushed the lead to 9-1 enforcing the eight-run rule.

Villanova sophomore Ricci Lugo (San Clemente, Calif.) and Wisniewski each chipped in with a two-hit performance in the losing effort.

Notre Dame roughed up Hornick for five earned runs on four hits in three innings of work as she falls to 22-8 on the year.

Game #2: VILLANOVA 1, Notre Dame 9 (6 inn.)
Notre Dame jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the Wildcats could get their first base hit of the game. Sophomore Lisa Krueger (Mission Viejo, Calif.) broke up Carrie Wisen's no-hitter in the top of the fourth inning with a double to center field. She scored Villanova's only run of game two on an error by Notre Dame's right fielder later in the inning.

Notre Dame's bats continued to produce runs as the Irish would score two runs in the fourth and sixth innings to extend their lead to 9-1 and once again enforce the eight-run rule.

Freshman Kristen Haynes (Fairfax, Calif.) allowed five runs on seven hits as she falls to 7-2 on the year

Villanova will return home and prepare for the opening round of the 2002 Big East Championships held at James I. Moyer Complex in Salem, Va. The Wildcats will play at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 9 against an opponent to be determined.

For more information on Villanova softball, please contact Media Relations Assistant, Kevin Fischer, 610.519.6460 or via email at Kevin.Fischer@villanova.edu.

Villanova University