Schmidt Twirls No-Hitter in NCAA Tournament But Loses 1-0 Heartbreaker

From Sports Information Director, May 12, 2012 | Softball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - St. Norbert College pitcher Shannen Schmidt fashioned a no-hitter against Anderson University but thanks to an unearned run the Green Knights lost a 1-0 decision in an elimination game at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional at Illinois Wesleyan University.

The Green Knights (18-20) had plenty of chances but stranded 11 baserunners to have its season come to an end.

Anderson (32-11) scored its lone run in the second inning when Lauren Smith opened the frame with a walk. Smith advanced to third on an throwing error on Stephanie Atkins' sacrifice bunt to put runners on the corners. Smith was caught stealing on a first-and-third play but Atkins would scamper to third base, where she eventually scored on Megan Ream's sacrifice fly.

St. Norbert left two runners on in the third inning, the bases loaded in the fourth inning, and two runners again in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Green Knights had seven hits, with Steph Brunette and Samantha Gross both going 2-for-4.

Schmidt walked two and struck out two in her no-hitter. Anderson's Monica Crowe improved to 20-2 by allowing seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings pitched.