DUNDALK, Md. – Notre Dame softball secured their fourth win of the season today, hosting non-conference opponent University of Valley Forge Tuesday afternoon.  In their first of three games in two days for the Gators, Notre Dame took an early lead over the Patriots and ended strong to take the five-inning victory.

In her first no-hitter of the season, sophomore Jodie Bronushas posted a career-high 10 strikeouts in five innings.  She is currently fourth in the CSAC in ERA and second in strikeouts this season (42).  At the plate, Bronushas scored a run in the fifth and notched a stolen base.

Senior Samantha Kastner got the Gators on the board in the bottom of the first, scoring junior Naudiya Hopkins.  Hopkins scored from second after she reached on a single to center field and got to second on her first stolen base of the season.

In the second inning, the Gators added two more runs when sophomore Lucy Polvinale hit a sac fly to center to score freshman Amethyst Stevens from third.  Freshman Maci Lopez, in the lead-off position, advanced to third base in her at bat, scoring sophomore Rena Dyson from second.  The Gators went into the third up, 3-0.

After two scoreless innings for the Gators, Lopez led off, drawing a walk.  Hopkins hit a opposite field single to put Lopez in scoring position.  Junior Isa Carunungan hit a sharp grounder through the left side to score Lopez from second and advance Hopkins to third. 

Kastner kept the momentum going, also hitting a grounder through the infield to score Hopkins and Carunungan, while advancing to third on an error by the left fielder.  Following Kastner, Bronushas reached on error by the third baseman to bring Kastner home.

After stealing second base, Stevens hit her second walk-off hit of her career, hitting a double to left field to score Bronushas from second base.

The Gators won by the eight-run rule in five innings, 8-0.

Hopkins and Kastner led the team with two hits each, while Kastner posted three RBI. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Gators are back in action tomorrow at CCBC Dundalk to face another non-conference opponent, Trinity Washington University.