Box Score
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Playing against one of the marquee softball programs in the Midwest, IUPUI put up little resistance at Notre Dame on Wednesday night, falling 8-0 in five innings at Ivy Field. The Fighting Irish scored in all five of their at-bats behind starter Jody Valdivia while the Jaguars managed just three hits offensively.
Junior infielder
Cayleigh Harvey provided a bright spot, upping her batting average to .263 on the young season with a pair of singles.
Sarah Smith got Notre Dame (16-9) going in the first by drilling a one-out double and eventually coming home on a Megahan Raynes' wild pitch. In the second inning, Christine Lux made it 2-0 by drilling her fourth homerun of the season to straight away centerfield.
IUPUI (1-9) threatened to break up Valdivia's shutout in the top of the third when Harvey ripped a one-out single through the left side and moved to second on an error. With two runners aboard, Valdivia got back-to-back punchouts to kill the rally.
The hosts added three more runs in the third as cleanup hitter Katie Laing connected for a two-run triple to right. Two pitches later, Laing scored on a wild pitch before Raynes whiffed Ashley Ellis to end the inning.
IUPUI threatened again in the top of the fifth with a two-out rally. Harvey reached with an infield single and scampered to third when sophomore
Mia Ettl, from nearby Mishawaka, Indiana, yanked a single to right center. Both were left stranded though when Valdivia got a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch to leadoff hitter
Amy McCoy.
Valdivia (4-4) struck out seven and didn't allow any walks in the shutout. Raynes (1-3) struck out three in three innings, allowing five runs (all earned). Sophomore
Jessica McGown gave up three runs and retired four batters in relief.
IUPUI will resume Summit League play this weekend in a three-game set versus South Dakota State. The games are scheduled to be played in Ralston, Nebraska. Friday's doubleheader will begin at 3:00 p.m. and Saturday's single game is set for 11:00 a.m..
