SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 23 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (29-6 overall, 8-0 BIG EAST) swept the University of South Florida softball team (18-19, 3-3) in the final game of the three-game series on Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 win.
The game remained a 0-0 tie through the first three innings as neither team reached base.
Katie Fleury of Notre Dame earned a one-out walk in the fourth for the first base runner in the game. The Irish followed with two more walks to load the bases. Dani Miller sent a deep fly ball to center, easily scoring Fleury as the Irish took a 1-0 lead.
The Bulls loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning but could not push across a run. Sophomore Janine Richardson and senior JoJo Medina earned back-to-back walks to lead off the inning. Senior Alison Savarese got the first hit of the game with a single to left field to load the bases with nobody out.
Senior Cat Olnick stepped to the plate and lined a shot right to the left fielder but hit it too sharp, unable to push across Richardson on third. After an infield fly and a strikeout, the Bulls ended the inning without a run as the Irish maintained the 1-0 lead.
With the bases loaded again with one out for the Irish in the fifth, Fleury hit a fly ball to right fielder Gina Kafalas who threw home, but Brianna Jorgensborg slid past the tag for the second run as the Irish extended their lead, 2-0.
Senior Kristen Gordon (4-5) held the No. 1 hitting team in the country to three hits and two runs but earned the loss. The Cocoa, Fla., native tossed 6.0 innings, striking out four and walking four, one intentional.
Notre Dame ace Jody Valdivia (22-3) held the Bulls to one hit in 7.0 innings of work, striking out six and walking three while getting her second win over the Bulls in the series.
USF continue BIG EAST play against the Providence Friars as the Bulls play a three-game in Rhode Island. The first game of the doubleheader next Saturday begins at noon, with the final game on Sunday also beginning at noon.
