Free hot dogs tonight though
Notre Dame couldn’t complete the late game rally, and lose the first game of the series against the Louisville Cardinals.
From the ND press release:
Irish Come Up Just Short Against No. 17 Cardinals
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – A tight 3-2 final in the series opener between Notre Dame and No. 17 Louisville went the other way for the Irish on Thursday evening.
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run. The Irish forced Louisville into stranding a runner in scoring position in the second inning when Jack Radel induced a grounder to Nick DeMarco to end the stanza. The defense stood tall yet again as the Cardinals loaded the bases before Notre Dame shut the door on the scoring chance.
Carson Tinney cut down a runner trying to steal in the top of the fourth to end the top of the inning. Bino Watters laced a two-out single, and Parker Brzustewicz drew a walk to put a pair on base. A fly ball to the outfield, however, stopped the chance for the Irish in the bottom of the fourth.
Louisville added a run in the top of the sixth to go up 2-o, but the Irish responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Davis Johnson started things off by getting hit by a pitch, and Carson Tinney dropped a double into left field to put two runners in scoring position. Bino Watters then drove in Johnson with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one.
The defense continued to keep the Irish in the mix after Connor Hincks cut down a runner trying to score on an infield ground ball in the top of the seventh. Louisville scored a run in the top of the eighth before Ricky Reeth picked off a runner at second to end the inning. The top of the ninth saw the Irish once again come up with a clutch defensive play. Another ball in the infield led to a run down between third and home, and the Irish defense cut down the runner to gain momentum heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Estevan Moreno hit a one-out single through the left side, and DM Jefferson added a single before a play at second led to an out while Moreno advanced to third. A wild pitch allowed Moreno to score to put Notre Dame within a run, but the late-game rally fell short in the 3-2 final.
Jack Radel went six complete and struck out six. Ricky Reeth went 2.0 on the mound, and Oisin Lee closed out the final inning on the bump for the Irish.
Bino Watters had a hit and drove in a run, and Estevan Moreno added a hit and scored once. Carson Tinney was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. DM Jefferson picked up a hit, and Davis Johnson scored a run. Parker Brzustewicz and Nick DeMarco each walked twice in the game.
The Irish (24-19, 10-15 ACC) return to Frank Eck Stadium on Friday night to host Louisville for a 6:30 p.m. contest. Free hot dogs will be available for early arriving students, and supplies are limited.