QND softball team manufactures walk-off victory, completes season-opening sweep

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The next time Quincy Notre Dame softball coach Eric Orne tells his team good things happen when you put pressure on the opposing defense, he has a prime example to use to back that up.

The Raiders opened their season Friday afternoon with a 3-2 victory over East Dubuque in which they managed just one hit and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh without a batted ball going further than 15 feet from home plate.

It created the right kind of momentum to finish a sweep of the day as QND blasted Genoa-Kingston 18-3.

Against East Dubuque, QND trailed 2-1 going to the bottom of the seventh when Caitlin Bunte led off with a double to left field. After taking third on a passed ball, Bunte scored the tying run as freshman Josie Boyer laid down a sacrifice bunt.

Bunte struck out the side in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for a unique walk-off scenario.

Leading off the bottom of the seventh, QND’s Lauren Miller reached first base on a dropped third strike and pinch-hitter Elise Sedovic followed by laying down a sacrifice bunt. A throwing error on the play enabled courtesy runner Ellie Miller to score the winning run.

Bunte earned the victory, allowing two runs and four hits while striking out 19 and walking one.

In the second game, the Raiders scored five runs in the first inning and ended the game in just four innings. Bunte went 2 for 4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs, while Morgan Zanger went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs and Lanie Fesler went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs.

Cadence Smith struck out nine and walked three over four innings to earn the victory.