Cruising
It was more of the same for Notre Dame on Saturday as they run rule the Bowling Green Falcons for the second game in a row.
From the ND press release:
Irish Add Second Run-Rule Win Over Falcons
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – For the second straight game, the Notre Dame baseball team run-ruled visiting Bowling Green – this time by an 11-1 final score in eight innings on Saturday.
Prior to the game 17 members of the team – three managers and 14 student-athletes – received their degrees at home plate on Degree Day. The special ceremony recognized their accomplishments and allowed the members of the team to celebrate their academic accomplishments as the team will be on the road next weekend during commencement exercises on campus.
Behind a season-best home crowd of over 900 fans, the Irish jumped on the scoreboard early. Rory Fox induced a trio of groundouts in the top of the first, and the Notre Dame bats rewarded him with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Carson Tinney laced a one-out double down the left field line before Davis Johnson drew a walk. Parker Brzustewicz punched a single through the left side, and Tinney came around from second to score. Connor Hincks then drilled a line-drive home run over the right field wall for a 4-0 lead for the home side.
Fox and the Irish defense forced the Falcons into stranding a runner in both the second and third innings of play. The top of the third featured a key diving catch by Brady Gumpf in right field to keep the Falcons at bay. The visiting side, however, got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth with a run to make it a 4-1 game.
Notre Dame got that run back in the bottom of the fifth. DM Jefferson drew a walk, and Carson Tinney bounced a single through the left side to put a pair on base. Parker Brzustewicz then delivered yet again with a single up the middle to drive in Jefferson.
Ricky Reeth got three consecutive outs to strand a runner on third in the top of the sixth, and Jayce Lee made a diving catch in left field in the top of the seventh as the Irish continued to limit the chances for the Falcons. In the bottom of the seventh, the Irish pushed four runs across to make it a 9-1 game. Brady Gumpf and DM Jefferson each hit singles, and Davis Johnson added a single to load the bases. A hard-hit ball by Brzustewicz saw the Falcons commit an error, which allowed both Gumpf and Jefferson to score on the play. Connor Hincks then drove in Johnson and Brzustewicz with a single to center field for the eight-run lead.
Sammy Cooper came on in the top of the eighth and retired both batters he faced by inducing a fly out to Gumpf and dialing up a strikeout to end the inning. Gumpf then led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run for a nine-run lead. DM Jefferson added another hit and stole second before Davis Johnson was intentionally walked. Parker Brzustewicz then delivered the final blow with a single to left field as Jefferson dove in to beat the play at the plate for the 11-1 win.
Rory Fox earned the win on the hill after going 5.0 by scattering three hits with a strikeout and a run. Ricky Reeth went 2.1 and struck out a pair. Sammy Cooper added 0.2 on the bump and struck out one.
Parker Brzustewicz went 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs, and a season-best four RBI. Connor Hincks added a 2-for-4 effort with a home run, a run, and a career-high five RBI. DM Jefferson matched his career-high marks for hits in a game (3) and runs in a game (3) while also drawing a walk. Carson Tinney collected a pair of hits with a double and a run, and Brady Gumpf tallied two hits, two runs, and a home run.
The Irish (28-19) look to close out the series sweep on Sunday when Notre Dame takes on Bowling Green at Bowling Green. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. ET.