Bad Sparty
Despite Notre Dame baseball’s ACC troubles, they’re doing just fine against the Big 10. On Wednesday, the Irish notched a home win over the Michigan State Spartans, 9-6.
From the ND press release:
Irish Outlast Spartans
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team captured a 9-6 win over Michigan State at Frank Eck Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Dylan Heine retired the side in order in the top of the first, and Estevan Moreno collected a grounder before a good stretch by Parker Brzustewicz led to a force out to end the second inning for the Irish defense.
Notre Dame erupted for nine runs in the bottom half of the second inning. Davis Johnson led off with a single through the right side of the infield. Jared Zimbardo was hit by a pitch to put a pair on base, and Brady Gumpf ripped a double up the left field line to drive in Johnson. Nick DeMarco lofted a soft single to right field to plate Zimbardo, and Jayce Lee used a single through the left side as Gumpf came in to score. Noah Coy beat out an infield bunt single to load the bases. Parker Brzustewicz then drove a double off of the base of the wall to drive in all three runners. Bino Watters was inches away from a home run as his RBI double hit off the wall while Brzustewicz scored easily on the play. Estevan Moreno was then hit by a pitch as the Irish hit around without an out being recorded. After a passed ball and a walk by Zimbardo loaded the bases, Nick DeMarco delivered his second hit of the inning to drive in Watters and Moreno for the 9-0 lead.
The Spartans plated a run in the top of the third before the Notre Dame defense forced Michigan State into stranding a runner in scoring position in the fourth in an effective two-inning performance by Kellan Klosterman. Jared Zimbardo had a perfectly-placed bunt single in the bottom of the fourth and stole second, but the Irish were unable to capitalize with the runner in scoring position.
Xavier Hirsch used three pitches to strike out the first Michigan State batter he faced in the top of the fifth as Hirsch retired the side in order. The Spartans put three hits together in the top of the sixth to make it a 9-3 game midway through the sixth inning.
Sammy Cooper dialed up a strikeout to begin his outing on the mound, and Cooper used a strikeout and a ground out later in the seventh to shut the door on the Spartans.
Oisin Lee then came into the game in the top of the eighth and sat down all three batters he faced with strikeouts. The Irish threatened to add to their lead in the bottom half of the inning. Connor Hincks drew a walk, and Bino Watters followed suit with a walk of his own to put a pair on base with one out gone. Back-to-back hard-hit fly balls were caught by the Spartans on the defensive side as the game moved to the ninth with the Irish still ahead 9-3.
The Spartans tried to put together the late-game comeback as Michigan State plated three runs to cut the difference to 9-6. Tobey McDonough, however, closed out the inning and the game with a big strikeout for his fourth save of the season.
Kellan Klosterman picked up the pitching win after posting three strikeouts in 2.0 innings of work in relief for his first collegiate victory on the mound. Dylan Heine had a no-decision effort after striking out one and not allowing a hit over the opening 2.0 innings of the game. Xavier Hirsch, Sammy Cooper, Oisin Lee, Justin Mayes Jr., Brady Koester, and Tobey McDonough all saw action with McDonough earning a save.
Nick DeMarco went 2-for-4 for the Irish with three RBI and a run. Parker Brzustewicz was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, three RBI, and a run. Bino Watters had a hit, an RBI, a run, and drew four walks. Brady Gumpf and Jayce Lee both collected a hit, a run, and an RBI in the win. Noah Coy, Davis Johnson, and Jared Zimbardo each had a hit and scored a run, and Estevan Moreno scored once in the victory.
The Irish (13-6) continue an extended homestand and host Florida State for a three-game ACC series beginning on Friday, March 28 at 4:30 p.m. Friday night will also feature a pom pom giveaway as early arriving fans will receive a green pom pom. Admission is free for all home Notre Dame baseball regular season contests.