Game 1 Stats
Game 2 Stats
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Western Michigan dropped a pair of games to Notre Dame at Melissa Cook
Stadium on Wednesday evening, falling, 6-1, in the opener and, 8-1, in
the nightcap. Lexi Jager had a big day at the plate, going 4-for-8
with a run scored.
Jager put the Broncos ahead on the scoreboard early in game one by leading off the first with a bunt single, scoring later on an RBI ground out off the bat of Mandi Sayres. Gracie Barstad collected the first of her two hits in game one after Jager's base knock with a knock of her own into right field. Jager would collect two more hits, in the third and fifth innings, respectively. Each of the sophomore's hits led off an inning for WMU, which will set the plate for this team as the conference schedule moves through 2009.
It would be the only run plated by WMU in the opener as Notre Dame answered in the home half of the first on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Christine Lux. Alexia Clay broke the game open with her fourth home run of the season, scoring a pair of runs. The Irish scored a third run of the inning on another home run, this time from Katie Fleury. Notre Dame scored one more run in the bottom of the third and another in the sixth to capture the five-run victory.
Notre Dame's Jody Valdivia was nearly untouchable in the circle to cap the doubleheader, giving up just one hit to Western Michigan. Jager came through in the top of the fifth inning with her second double of the season, advancing Sarah Thomas to third base after drawing a lead-off walk. Thomas led off the third with a walk as well and later scored an unearned run when Jager reached on a fielding error, advancing to second on a wild pitch and to third on fly out to right field by Michelle Bendewald.
The Irish gave Valdivia all the run support she needed on Dani Miller's grand slam, taking a 2-2 pitch over the left center field wall. Notre Dame added doubled its score with four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim an 8-1 win the sweep.
Western Michigan turns its attention to the Mid-American Conference as the Broncos welcome Ohio University to Fran Ebert Field for the 2009 home opener. The Broncos and Bobcats have a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. Akron follows with games on Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
