Bulldogs hold on for win

The Notre Dame softball team survived a seventh-inning scare to defeat Fredericktown 5-4 in a Class 3 sectional game Wednesday at Park Hills, Mo.

The Bulldogs (27-2) will take on Sullivan Saturday at Kirkwood for a berth in the Class 3 final four.

The Bulldogs led 5-1 after six innings, but Fredericktown took advantage of three Notre Dame errors to score three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Blackcats had runners on first and third when the last batter was retired on a bunt.

"We were a little nervous today," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "I was surprised."

Fredericktown scored a run in the third, but Notre Dame scored two in the fifth.

Allison Peters hit a one-out single, then took second and third on passed balls before scoring on a throwing error on Erika Reinagel's bunt. Kristain Burger then drove Reinagel home with a two-out double.

The Bulldogs scored three more times in the sixth inning, beginning with Cortney Ostendorf's RBI double to score Bailey Reutzel. Ostendorf and Britney Schott proceeded to scored on consecutive passed balls.

Beth Schnurbusch earned her 18th win, striking out nine batters.

Burger had two doubles and an RBI.

Notre Dame, which averaged less than one error per game during the regular season, committed five errors compared to Fredericktown's one.

Notre Dame 5, Fredericktown 4

Notre Dame 000 023 0 -- 5 8 5

Fredericktown 001 000 3 -- 4 3 1

WP -- Beth Schnurbusch (18-0). LP -- Kemp. 3B -- Hendrix (F). 2B -- Kristain Burger (N) 2, Cortney Ostendorf (N). Multiple hits -- Burger (N) 2-4. Records -- Notre Dame 27-2.