Notre Dame-Hillsdale softball

Central Coast Section Division III
Wednesday's game
No. 1 Hillsdale (21-7) vs. No. 5 Notre Dame (18-8) at PAL Stadium, San Jose, 7 p.m.
 The three-time reigning Division III champion Spirits are playing like a team with a purpose, having outscored their first two opponents 20-3.
 This, however, will be the biggest obstacle in Notre Dame's path as it faces one of the sections top pitchers in Eryn McCoy, who is 21-3 with a 1.35 earned run average.
 McCoy has tossed 13 shutouts this year, blanking Santa Catalina in last Saturday's quarterfinals. The Fighting Knights come into the semifinals having won eight straight games.
 Champions of the Peninsula Bay Athletic League, Hillsdale hit .332 as a team this year with Baily McDonough hitting .530 at the top of the order.
 Sophomore Vanessa Gonzalez has been filthy in the circle for the Spirits in the playoffs with  17 strikeouts in 12 innings, compiling 185 strikeouts this spring.
 Aly Gomonet has slapped the ball all over the field this year for Notre Dame, hitting .534 with 55 hits in 26 games, while Lauren Pullara and Kaeli Bush have combined for 48 RBI.
 Execution will be critical as a run may be a gift in this anticipated pitchers dual.