The Notre Dame-Belmont softball team, which prominently features three freshmen and three sophomores among its typical starting nine, is learning how to win in the challenging West Catholic Athletic League. Since a loss to Sacred Heart Cathedral April 9 - Notre Dame's eighth in nine games - the Tigers have won four in a row, including three in the WCAL. The latest, a 4-1 win at home over Presentation, has lifted NDB (12-10, 3-5 WCAL) out of the cellar and to within a game and a half of second-place St. Ignatius (12-11, 5-4).
Sophomore Lindsey Mifsud (7-8) was yet again a standout on the mound, tossing a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts and allowing just an unearned run in the first inning. Julia Villanueva, one of only three upperclassmen in the starting lineup, was the hitting star, driving in three runs, including a two-run double in the fifth inning.
Freshman Danica Kazakoff launched an RBI triple and scored in the three-run fifth, breaking a 1-1 tie and turning over a 4-1 lead to Mifsud. The Panthers scored their run on an RBI single by Raegan Leong to drive home Lorena Ukanwa, who had reached on an error.
Notre Dame-Belmont looks to close ground on second-place St. Ignatius with a home game against the Wildcats on Tuesday. Presentation (11-11, 4-0) hosts undefeated Mitty (21-0, 8-0) on Wednesday.
