April 13, 2011

Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Dani Miller went 4 for 4 and Katie Fleury drove in three runs to lead No. 24 Notre Dame (29-7) to an 8-0 victory in six innings over visiting Loyola University Chicago (15-16) this afternoon at Melissa Cook Stadium. A year ago, the Ramblers handed the Irish an 8-0 loss at Loyola Softball Park.

Notre Dame scored in all but one inning and received all of the offense it would need in the top of the first when it plated three runs on six hits. Run-scoring singles by Heather Johnson, Fleury and Erin Marrone highlighted the big first inning for the Fighting Irish.

Brooke Andresen led off the game with an infield hit for Loyola, but the Ramblers would see seven of the next 10 hitters go down on strikes before Keali Engelkens singled with one out in the fourth inning.

Holding a four-run edge going into the bottom of the fourth, the Fighting Irish put the contest out of reach in their half of the inning when Fleury's double down the left field line scored a pair of runs to give the hosts a comfortable 6-0 lead.

Loyola struggled against Notre Dame pitchers Laura Winter and Jody Valdivia, striking out 10 times, while managing only three hits, none of which left the infield. Olivia Bell recorded the Ramblers' third hit of the game, an infield single in the sixth.

Engelkens worked in relief for the sixth time in the last seven outings and struck out three in 5.2 innings.

The Ramblers continue their busy week when they host Big Ten rival Purdue, tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Loyola Softball Park.