Photo gallery spanning the entire rain delayed tournament.

May 15, 2006

Recap |  Box Score

The University of Notre Dame softball team claimed the 2006 BIG EAST Championship with wins over Providence, Pittsburgh and #18 Louisville over the weekend of May 13-15. The Irish entered the tournament as the third seed overall, but after three consecutive wins they were crowned league champions for the fifth time since 1996.

The tournament started off strong for the Irish, after Heather Booth was touched for her only run of the weekend with a solo home run in the top of the first inning by Providence, Mallorie Lenn answered by drilling a two-run home run off the Ivy Field scoreboard to put the Irish ahead to stay - for the entire weekend. Notre Dame would not trail again en route to the league title (photo by Marcus Snowden). Pinch runner Sarah Smith rounds third and will score on a double into leftfield by Katie Laing, putting the Irish up 3-1 I their eventual 4-1 victory over Providence (photo by Marcus Snowden). After allowing the first-inning home run against Providence, Booth settled down to scatter four hits the rest of the game while striking out four and walking just one (photo by Marcus Snowden).

Irish head coach Deanna Gumpf kept her team focused during a crazy weekend, which featured repeated rain delays and a shift in location from the Belleville Complex in South Bend, Ind., to Ivy Field on the University of Notre Dame's campus (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C). Gessica Hufnagle made several running catches in foul territory during the weekend tournament (photo by Marcus Snowden). Senior Meagan Ruthrauff played her part, both offensively and defensively for the Irish during the tournament. She ended up with five hits and an RBI, including a three-for-three performance in the semifinals against Pittsburgh (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C.).

Senior Sara Schoonaert scores the first run of Notre Dame's 5-0 win over Pittsburgh in the semifinals with a great slide. She doubled to lead off the third inning and scored on a single to rightfield by Mallorie Lenn (photo by Matt Cashore). Booth took to the pitching circle in the semifinals against Pittsburgh and was brilliant. She carried a no-hitter all the way to two outs in the seventh inning, striking out four and walking four. No Pitt player touched second base in the game, as Mallorie Lenn threw out a base runner attempting to steal and Notre Dame turned a double play later in the contest (photo by Matt Cashore). Lenn (left) and Booth (right) worked together perfectly throughout the tournament, combining to post 20 consecutive shutout innings (photo by Matt Cashore).

Booth was also outstanding defending her own position during the tournament. In fact, Notre Dame's entire defense was perfect during the three-game run through the championship, as the Irish did not commit a single error (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C.). Junior Stephanie Brown drilled a double down the leftfield line to lead off the championship game against #18 Louisville. Brown eventually scored on a bunt single by Lenn - scoring the only run of the championship game (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C.). The Irish record the first out of the bottom of the seventh inning against Louisville on a sharp ground ball to shortstop (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C.).

Senior Heather Booth uncorks the final pitch of the championship, which is popped up into short leftfield... (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C.) ... Schoonaert moves over from her shortstop position to make the catch, backed up closely by Gessica Hufnagle in from leftfield (photo by Matt Cashore). Notre Dame celebrates the final out of the 2006 BIG EAST Championship (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C.).

It was a memorable moment for the Irish senior class, as Meagan Ruthrauff (#77) joins in the hug with Sara Schoonaert and Heather Booth (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C). Assistant coach Kris Ganeff lets everyone know that, at least on May 14th, the Irish were #1 in the BIG EAST Conference (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C). Irish head coach Deanna Gumpf enjoys her traditional Gatorade bath after claiming her third BIG EAST Championship in five years at Notre Dame (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C.).

Heather Booth was an easy selection for the championship's Most Outstanding Player Award. She won all three games for Notre Dame, pitching all 21.0 innings, striking out 15 and allowing just seven hits - including two total over 14.0 innings of work on Sunday (photo by Marcus Snowden). The Irish senior class - and the team's four captains - pose with the 2006 BIG EAST Championship trophy (left to right) Heather Booth, Megan Ruthrauff, Mallorie Lenn and Sara Schoonaert (photo by Marcus Snowden). Notre Dame claimed its fifth BIG EAST Championship with the 1-0 victory over #18 Louisville. The Irish will move on to face UC Santa Barbara in the first round of regional action at Northwestern on Friday, May 19th (photo by Br. Charles McBride, C.S.C.).