Notre Dame softball team dominates Naylor in season opener

The Notre Dame Bulldogs have made four consecutive trips to the Class 3 final four.

They may make it five if the opening game of the 2011 campaign is any indication.

The Bulldogs opened their season by pounding visiting Naylor 15-0 in four innings Thursday afternoon.

"You start eight seniors and you expect good things," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "Anytime you put that many upperclassmen in the lineup, these girls played a tremendous amount of competitive softball this summer, with the big goal in mind they want to make that trip back to Springfield. They worked their butts off with expectations of getting after it and they come out today and get a big win."

Notre Dame (1-0) jumped all over the Eagles (0-1) in the bottom of the first inning.

Notre Dame baserunner Veronica Moore slides safely into second base as the throw gets away from Naylor shortstop Darby Pruett during the second inning Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011 at Notre Dame. (Fred Lynch)

The Bulldogs, who are known for their speed, displayed not only that but some power, too.

Notre Dame tallied nine runs on seven hits, three of them doubles, two walks and an error in the first.

"It was a rough start," Naylor coach Jean Deckard said. "They hit the ball pretty well, but we didn't give Ericka [Engelman] much backing in the field and didn't make a couple simple plays. We just didn't really come out ready to play."

The Bulldogs were paced by Summer Burger, who went 3 for 4 with three doubles and five RBIs.

The senior has committed verbally to play at Southeast Missouri State next season.

Notre Dame center fielder Hali Rendleman catches a Naylor fly ball during the third inning Thursday.

"It's going really good, just been working a lot," Burger said. "Everybody's been doing really well and then coming out and performing was really key today."

Burger batted from the left side of the plate last year, attempting to be a slap hitter. She's moved back to the right side of the plate to factor her power into play this season.

"We talked about it last year in the fall," Graviett said about the switch back to the right side. "We kind of utilized her as a bunter and used her speed from the left side, which was a little bit selfish on our behalf to help the team out, which she did without even questioning. So now it's kind of let's do something for her and switch her around and see what she's capable of doing from the right side."

The Bulldogs had six batters with hits, and four of them collected multiple hits.

Notre Dame displayed its usual speed but added power from the middle of the lineup, something that proved lethal.

"It's really nice," Burger said about the combination. "The first couple of hitters have a lot of speed and then our whole middle is very powerful. Then we end up with two little quick ones at the end too, so it's like speed and power all the way through."

Added Graviett: "Up and down the lineup just a tremendous amount of speed that's going to continue to put pressure. Then the girls we got hitting in the middle have tons of power. So it's a great combination of both, and it's going to be a tough combination for somebody to slow down all year long."

The Bulldogs made the early lead hold up thanks in large part to the pitching performance of Katie Bond and the defense.

Bond hurled four innings, allowing two hits and walking one while striking out three.

"She did a tremendous job," Graviett said. "She's not the strikeout pitcher Lauren Reinagel was a couple years ago, but she changes speed and puts balls in play and we make plays behind her."

The defense was perfect, fielding all nine of its chances.

"It may be one of the better defenses I've had," Graviett said. "And that's saying a lot. These girls do a tremendous job every day in practice. And that's one thing we really try to instill in our program up and down. That's what's going to win and get you to the final four, and they take that and work really hard at it."

Naylor 000 0 -- 0 2 4

Notre Dame 912 3 -- 15 12 0

WP -- Katie Bond, 1-0. LP -- Ericka Engelman, 0-1. 2B -- Summer Burger 3 (ND), Jessica Menz (ND), Sadie Schaefer (ND). Multiple hits: Notre Dame, Brianne Sanders 2-4, Burger 3-4, Menz 2-3, Brandi Glastetter 2-3. Records -- Naylor 0-1, Notre Dame 1-0.