Bond's one-hitter lifts Notre Dame softball over Central

Notre Dame nearly matched its results from the first time it faced Central this week.

The Bulldogs cruised to a 12-1 victory in five innings Friday after a 12-2 five-inning win Tuesday.

Katie Bond hurled a one-hitter in the circle and the Bulldogs offense was explosive Friday. Notre Dame (19-0) jumped on the Tigers for five runs in the first inning.

"You come out here and that's what you want to do," Bulldogs coach Jeff Graviett said. "Get out early on them and stay on top of them."

Brianne Sanders coaxed a walk to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Summer Burger and Savanna Ayers followed with back-to-back singles to make it 1-0 with runners on the corners.

The Bulldogs' Jessica Menz then ripped a liner at the shortstop that took a tricky hop and went to the wall for a two-run triple.

"That was really good," Menz said of the early lead. "We're lucky we can hit. We have great coaches that teach us how to hit well."

Sophomore Brandi Glastetter capped the first inning with an RBI single to make it 5-0.

"It's always tough," Central coach Amy Blattel said of the early hole. "We had a big win last night against Poplar Bluff. It's always tough to come back after a big win."

Notre Dame didn't let up in the second inning.

Ayers was hit a by a pitch to lead off the inning and Menz roped a double off the left-center field wall to drive her in.

Glastetter and Hali Rendleman walked to load the bases with nobody out.

After a fielder's choice, Ashton Elfrink lined a double to the left-center gap that plated two to make it 8-0.

"We talk all year about putting a zero on the board when they're up and putting at least one run on the board when we're up," Graviett said.

Sadie Schaefer made it 10-0 when she laced a double to plate two Bulldogs runners.

Bond made sure the Tigers (8-12) didn't rally.

"Katie throws strikes," Menz said. "She has a good defense behind her that she can trust."

Menz added a 3-for-3 day at the plate that included two triples and a double.

"Her [Menz] and Savanna and Hali are all having tremendous years," Graviett said. "You can talk about the speed up at the top of the lineup all you want, but somebody has to drive them in. Jessica can take somebody deep at any point."

The junior third baseman proved that Friday afternoon with two liners off the wall.

"I just practice all the time," Menz said. "After practice, I go hit off the tee. It feels amazing. "

The Tigers' lone run came off their lone hit.

Kadie Orenstein smacked a triple to right field to score a run in the top of the third inning.

"Honestly, I'm not disappointed with the way we played at all," Blattel said. "All our pitchers got work. We are trying to get ready for the postseason and we wanted to get our pitchers work, so there's really nothing negative to take away. We are working for the postseason and they're not in our postseason."

Central 001 00 -- 1 1 1

Notre Dame 552 0x -- 12 12 0

WP -- Katie Bond. LP -- Bailey Kratochvil. 3B -- Jessica Menz 2 (ND), Kadie Orenstein (C). 2B -- Menz (ND), Ashton Elfrink (ND), Sadie Schaefer (ND). Multiple hits -- Notre Dame: Menz 3-3, Brandi Glastetter 2-3, Schaefer 2-3. Records -- Central 8-12. Notre Dame 19-0.