Northwestern State Defeats Notre Dame

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 28, 2003

NORTHWESTERN STATE OPENS LA. CLASSICS WITH WIN OVER NOTRE DAME Demons strike for three early runs, hold on in the end

LAFAYETTE – Nicole Martin picked up three hits and starting pitcher Amanda Ortego threw a complete game striking out nine as Northwestern State Demon's softball team picked up its first win of the 2003 season with a 3-2 win over Notre Dame in the opening game of the 17th Annual Louisiana Classics here at Lady Cajun Park.

Ortego (1-3) struck out the final two Irish hitters in the top of the seventh to seal the win for the Demons (1-7). ND (3-5) dropped its second straight game overall and fourth in its last five outings. Wisen suffered her first loss of the young season.

NSU wasted no time jumping on Irish pitcher Carrie Wisen. The Demons picked up two runs off three hits in the bottom of the first inning.

Martin led off the inning for the Demons with a double to right center. Martin then stole third and was plated by a Sarina Noak infield single. Lindsey Danzy then reached on a perfectly placed bunt past ND third baseman Andrea Loman. Lindsay Leftwich then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third.

Shay Hunt would ground to shortstop and ND's Andria Bledsoe fired a strike to home plate to nail down Noack for the second out of the inning. Ortego brought home the Demons second run of the inning when she hit into a grounder at second base. Bledsoe got the force of Hunt at second base, but Danzy had scored before the third out was recorded.

The Demons added one more run in the second inning when Martin doubled to right center to score pinch runner Lauren Fitts. Martin's hit chased Wisen out of the game and ND head coach Deanna Gumpf replaced her with Heather Booth.

Booth held the Demons in check the rest of the way going 4 2/3 innings allowing just three hits and striking out five.

The Irish made a rally in the sixth inning plating two runs on three hits. Back-to-back doubles by Andrea Loman and Meagan Ruthrauff and NSU's lead was cut to 3-2. Ortego settled down and retired the final two hitters getting Bledsoe to ground out and striking out Mallorie Lenn.

Northwestern State will turn around and play Southland Conference-rival McNeese State approximately 30 minutes following game 1 while Notre Dame will be off until 6:30 p.m. when they take on host Louisiana-Lafayette in day one's finale.

-- Louisiana Classics --

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

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