Notre Dame Baseball Wins Another Series After Huge Comeback

The #6 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team was in Chestnut Hill, MA this weekend for a conference series against the Boston College Eagles. Notre Dame lost the first game on Friday night before sweeping a double header on Saturday to win the series, including a comeback from a nine run deficit in the third gam. Notre Dame sits second in the ACC Atlantic Division and the conference overall, just .008 percentage points behind the Louisville Cardinals.

Game 1: Notre Dame 0 (18-8, 16-8) - Boston College 10 (16-19, 6-16)

Win: Emmett Sheehan, BC (4-3)

Loss: Will Mercer, ND (1-1)

This game was all Boston College right from the start. The Eagles scored a run each in the first and second innings on a bases loaded sacrifice fly and a solo home run. They extended their lead in the third, scoring three runs on a home run from Ramon Jimenez. The Eagles put the game out of reach with four runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth.

There’s not much to say about this one. Notre Dame managed only five hits in the game, and their offense was the best part of their performance. Things changed in the doubleheader on Saturday though.

Game 2: Notre Dame 5 (19-8, 17-8) - Boston College 2 (16-20, 6-17)

Win: John Michael Bertrand, ND (4-1)

Loss: Mason Pelio, BC (3-5)

Save: Tanner Kohlhepp, ND (2)

Notre Dame was the team to take the early lead in game two, scoring three runs in the first two innings. In the first, the Irish loaded the bases before Spencer Myers scored on a sacrifice fly from Carter Putz. When the throw went to second base trying to catch Niko Kavadas advancing, Ryan Cole was able to score as well. In the second inning Myers was involved again, singling home Zack Prajzner for the 3-0 lead.

John Michael Bertrand turned in another stellar performance on the mound for Notre Dame, at one point retiring eleven straight Eagles. Eventually his run came to an end though when he allowed two runs in the seventh inning with only one out. Tanner Kohlhepp came on to close out the inning and end the threat, pitching the final 2.2 innings to earn the save.

In the ninth inning, with only a 3-2 lead, Niko Kavadas hit a two run home run for some insurance runs. Kohlhepp shut down the Eagles in the bottom of the ninth and Notre Dame evened the series with one more left to play in the series and doubleheader.

Game 3: Notre Dame 13 (20-8, 18-8) - Boston College 9 (16-21, 6-18)

Win: Liam Simon, ND (4-1)

Loss: Charlie Coon, BC (1-2)

The second game of the doubleheader started off much like the first game of the series, it was all Boston College early. The Eagles scored in four of the first five innings and held a 9-0 lead after the fifth.

Notre Dame didn’t get to work until the seventh inning, with Zack Prajzner scoring on a groundout from Spencer Myers. Then in the eighth inning Notre Dame exploded for twelve runs to take the lead. The inning started with two home runs for Notre Dame, a solo home run from Niko Kavadas and a three run home run from Zack Prajzner. Kyle Hess then scored on an infield single from Myers led to an errant throw from Boston College. Two bases loaded walks scored two more runs for Notre Dame to make it a 9-8 lead.

David LaManna followed that up with an infield single that scored two to give Notre Dame their first lead of the game 10-9. The Irish weren’t finished yet though. Jack Brannigan stole home to score another run and then Kyle Hess capped off the inning with a double that drove in two more runs. Liam Simon and Aidan Tyrell shut down Boston College over the final two innings and the Irish held on for the 13-9 win. The win capped off Notre Dame’s largest comeback win since 2009.

Up Next

Notre Dame returns home for their next four games. They have a Tuesday game against the Valparaiso Crusaders followed by a weekend series with the North Carolina Tar Heels.