Home series win denied
Notre Dame is still struggling to win an ACC series. Against the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Irish won the first game but dropped the final two — just as they did with the Florida State Seminoles last week.
From the ND press release:
Series Finale Goes Other Way for Irish Against Hokies
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team ended on the short side of an 11-5 final against Virginia Tech in the series rubber match on Sunday afternoon at Frank Eck Stadium.
The Hokies plated three runs in the top of the second inning to grab the lead early. The Irish tried to respond in the bottom half of the inning. Davis Johnson worked a full count before drawing a lead-off walk, and Parker Brzustewicz sent a single to right field to put a pair on board for the home side. The next three batters, however, were unable to advance the pair any further as the game rolled over to the third.
Virginia Tech posted three runs in the fourth and added four in the fifth to gain a 10-0 advantage. Notre Dame continued to fight down the stretch. The Irish got on the scoreboard in a big way in the bottom of the fifth. Connor Hincks laced a single to center field, and Nick DeMarco drilled the first pitch of his at-bat over the left field wall for a two-run home run.
The Hokies put a run on the board in the sixth, and the Irish came right back with a run in the bottom of the inning. Carson Tinney hit a one-out single to left, and Davis Johnson added a single up the middle to put Tinney on third. Parker Brzustewicz then drove in Tinney with a grounder to plate the third run of the contest for the Irish.
Justin Mayes Jr. retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, and Xavier Hirsch followed suit by retiring the side in order in the top of the eighth. Notre Dame continued to push on the offensive side as Jared Zimbardo led off the bottom of the eighth with a double and advanced to third on a ground out. Carson Tinney had his second hit in as many at-bats to drive in Zimbardo. Davis Johnson drew another walk to put a pair on base. A ground-rule double by Estevan Moreno drove in Tinney, but the rally in the eighth ended short for the Irish. DM Jefferson beat out an infield single in the ninth before a pair of outs ended the game by the 11-5 final.
Rory Fox struck out four but suffered the pitching loss in 3.1 innings of work. Chase Van Ameyde, Brady Koester, Jackson Dennies, Justin Mayes Jr., Xavier Hirsch, and Keenan Mork all saw action on the mound and combined for 10 strikeouts down the stretch.
Carson Tinney went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Nick DeMarco hit his fifth home run of the season to drive in two and score a run. Connor Hincks and Jared Zimbardo each had a hit and scored a run for the Irish. Parker Brzustewicz had a hit and drove in a run, Davis Johnson added a hit with two walks, and DM Jefferson collected a hit.
The Irish (15-14, 3-12 ACC) are set to take on Northwestern at Frank Eck Stadium on Tuesday, April 8 at 5:30 p.m. The game will also be Military Appreciation night as the team honors the bravery and service of our military heroes. Admission is free for all home regular season baseball games.