Nikki Peters throws perfect game for Notre Dame in 11-0 win over Central

~ Notre Dame pitcher shows shoulder is healthy in 11-0 victory over Central

Notre Dame starting pitcher Nikki Peters completed her first career perfect game against visiting Central on Tuesday.

But at Monday's practice Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said he was concerned about whether or not Peters would start.

The right-hander had been battling some shoulder soreness and was not at 100 percent, according to Graviett.

"She was struggling a bit there lately, and I wasn't sure she could even go today," Graviett said. "We practiced yesterday and it was more of a rehab day for her, but after I watched the movement on her balls it was pretty clear she was going to be OK."

The Bulldogs senior struck out five in five innings and did not allow the Tigers a single base runner in Notre Dame's (16-6) 11-0 win over Central (6-14).

Peters said she wasn't thinking about her shoulder or the perfect game -- she was focused on winning.

"I kind of knew, but I really didn't think about it," Peters said. "We've dropped some games that we should've won lately, I really just tried to keep throwing my pitches and hit my spots so we could get back to winning."

Peters helped the Bulldogs end a two-game losing skid that featured losses to Festus and Jackson by throwing Central hitters off balance with her curveball.

"That worked best for me today," Peters said. "I have a riseball which works, too, but I kept throwing the dropball because I kept hitting spots and it was working."

Central coach Amy Blattel said her team passed up good opportunities to put the ball in play.

"We've got to be more selective with the pitches we want to swing at, we've got to be more disciplined at the plate," Blattel said. "We let a lot of good pitches go by, and like I said, it starts with discipline at the plate."

Notre Dame got things started with a run in the first. Taylor Hess singled to lead off the inning, and a groundball out from Madison Landeros advanced Hess to second. Hess stole third during the next at-bat and scored on an RBI groundout by Morgan Duschell.

Peters struck out the first two Central batters on six pitches to begin the second inning, then got some help from Landeros, the Bulldogs shortstop, who made a diving stop on a groundball to keep Peters' perfect game intact.

"I couldn't have done it without my defense," Peters said. "I love all of them, and they deserve some credit, too."

Notre Dame scored six more runs in the second inning thanks to a couple Central errors and Notre Dame's ability to hit with runners in scoring position.

Maria Layton hit a hard groundball to the Tiger's second baseman, who fielded it cleanly but made an errant throw to first base.

Payton Friga followed with a walk, then two batters later Anne Ziegler reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Carson Freeman drove in Layton and Friga one batter later with a one-out double to make it 3-0.

"We've got to clean up defensively and we will," Blattel said after her team committed three errors. "I have confidence in the girls even though it was not the best day defensively, and we know that."

Hess singled during the next at-bat and advanced to second following a hit by Landeros.

Ziegler scored on Landeros' single to extend the lead to 4-0.

Notre Dame scored three more runs on an RBI single by Duschell, a wild pitch and an error by Central's catcher.

Ten batters came to the plate for the Bulldogs before the Tigers got out of the second. Seven of those batters reached base and six scored.

"We just put the ball in play and make teams make plays," Graviett said. "That's the type of team we are because we don't have any big boppers. We just like to put a lot of teams under pressure with our speed. That seems to work out for us, it seems to be our bread and butter."

Freeman made it 8-0 by driving in her third run with her second double of the game in the third, which scored Haylie Santos after she was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. Freeman went 2 for 3 in the Bulldogs win.

"I was going up to the plate and feeling pretty confident," Freeman said. "We had practice yesterday for the first time in a few weeks and I was getting my eye on the ball, doing a lot of tee work. I came up in both at-bats and saw pitches that I liked and hit them, it felt good."

Graviett said he feels good about the way the Bulldogs are hitting with just three games left in the regular season.

"I think right now the only big thing is to see if we can keep hitting and putting the ball in play and keeping everyone healthy," Graviett said. "That's not even really a concern, though, because I know these girls are working hard and will be ready come district play."

Central 000 000 0 -- 0 0 3

Notre Dame 161 300 0 -- 11 10 0

WP -- Nikki Peters (12-5). LP -- Maggie Groshong. 2B -- Carson Freeman (ND) 2. Multiple hits -- Notre Dame: 3-4, Carson Freeman 2-3. Records -- Central 6-14, Notre Dame 16-6.