April 24, 2004
Final Stats
VILLANOVA, PA. - Villanova hosted Notre Dame in a Big East doubleheader on Saturday in the league's premiere match up of the week, but the outcome was not what the 'Cats were hoping for. A pair of complete game shutouts by ND's Heather Booth and Steffany Stenglein led the Fighting Irish to 4-0 and 2-0 victories, enabling the Irish to take over first place in the conference.
Villanova and Notre Dame were meeting for the first time since their epic Big East Conference title game 349 days ago, won by the Irish, 3-2 in nine innings.
In game one, the Wildcats came away from their best offensive opportunity of the afternoon empty-handed in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Krissy Yauch reached on an error, and Ricci Lugo singled to put runners on first and second with one out. But clean-up hitter Kari Koller's ground ball was fielded by Notre Dame third baseman Liz Hartmann, who stepped on the bag and fired across the diamond to end the threat.
It was the only time the 'Cats would put two runners on base in an inning against Booth, who went the distance, allowing five hits and walking none while striking out eight. The sophomore right-hander improved to 18-5 with the win.
The Fighting Irish broke through off Shannon Williams (16-9) in the top of the third. Carissa Jaquish singled, and was sacrificed to second by Sara Schoonaert. Consecutive hits by Stephanie Brown, Nicole deFau and Megan Ciolli were followed by Meagan Ruthrauff's sacrifice fly, which built a 3-0 lead.
deFau homered in the fifth for Notre Dame's fourth run. Williams completed the game for the 17th time this season, giving up the four runs on eight hits and striking out six. She did not walk a batter for her third straight start, and 14th overall on the year.
Lugo went 2-for-3 in game one to lead the 'Nova offense. Her classmate, senior leftfielder Robin Flier, played in her 109th and 110th consecutive games on Saturday.
In the nightcap, VU had more struggles at the plate, this time against Stenglein, a junior right-hander. She limited the Wildcats to four hits and walked two while fanning seven. The Villanova offense put the leadoff hitter on base in five of the seven frames, but only two would move into scoring position against Stenglein. Allie Wisniewski had two of Villanova's four hits.
Kristen Haynes (9-8) nearly matched Stenglein, but in the end gave up two runs on seven hits. She walked one and struck out six. Haynes allowed runs in the second and sixth innings. Mallorie Lenn led of the second with a double, and pinch-runner Kenya Fuemmeler came around to score on a single by Jaquish.
The Irish then manufactured an insurance run in the sixth. deFau doubled, advanced to third on Ciolli's ground out, and scored on a ground out by Ruthrauff.
Notre Dame is now 37-13 in 2004 and perfect in ten tries in Big East action. The Wildcats fell to 25-18, 9-3 in conference play. In addition to being the top two teams in the Big East standings, ND and VU are also the top two squads in the league in fielding percentage. On Saturday, the teams combined for just one error in two well-played ball games.
Villanova will play its final conference doubleheader of the home schedule against Syracuse on Sunday, Apr. 25 at 12:00 p.m.
