By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Notre Dame was limited to one hit in a 3-0 loss to Ashland Blazer in the first round of the Worth/KHSAA State Softball Tournament on Thursday in Owensboro.
Most of the Notre Dame players had never competed in the state tournament before and they struggled at the plate against Blazer senior pitcher Megan Hensley, who had 13 strikeouts. The only Pandas who reached base were sophomore catcher Kennedy Baugh, who drew a walk in the third inning, and sophomore infielder Cori Ladanyi, who got in infield hit in the fifth.
Hensley smacked a two-run homer in the first inning to give Blazer an early lead. The Tomcats scored another run in the second inning, but Notre Dame senior pitcher Haylee Smith held them to just one hit the rest of the game. Smith finished with nine strikeouts.
Notre Dame (26-7) drops to the loser’s bracket in the double-elimination state tournament and plays Estill County (20-16) at 11 a.m. Friday.