Notre Dame advances to Super Regional With 14-2 Win Over Central Michigan

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team was at it again in the South Bend Regional Final, facing off against the Central Michigan Chippewas for the second time in three days. It took a bit longer for the offense to get started today, but once they got rolling they couldn’t be stopped. Notre Dame scored a combined 50 runs in the three game regional, while allowing only 5 runs on three terrific pitching performances.

Notre Dame 14 - Central Michigan 2

Win: Aidan Tyrell, ND

Loss: Cameron Brown, CMU

Things started off relatively slowly, with both pitchers holding their opponents scoreless through the first three innings. Central Michigan managed to get on the board first in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run from Griffin Lockwood-Powell. Notre Dame was able to respond in the bottom half of the inning though, when Niko Kavadas hit his fifth home run of the Regional to tie the game. Carter Putz then reached on an error before coming around to score on another error off the bat of David LaManna for the 2-1 Irish lead.

Ryan Cole led off the fifth inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After walks to Jared Miller and Niko Kavadas, Carter Putz came up with the bases loaded and launched a grand slam to extend Notre Dame’s lead. In the top of the sixth inning CMU pulled one back, hitting into a double play with runners on first and third, but allowing the run to score.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Notre Dame put runners on base again and this time it was Ryan Cole who drove them in with a three run home run for the 9-2 lead. Notre Dame kept goin in the eighth inning, adding five more runs. Carter Putz hit a solo home run with one out, followed by a walk from Jack Brannigan and a two run home run from Brooks Coetzee. Later in the inning TJ Williams singled to drive in David LaManna and Jared Miller hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Zack Prajzner.

After eight innings pitched with only two runs allowed, Aidan Tyrell was relieved by Tanner Kohlhepp, who retired the Chippewas in order in the ninth inning to seal the win and send Notre Dame to their first Super Regional since 2002.

Up Next

Notre Dame advances to the Super Regional where they will take on the winner of the Starkville Regional. The Mississippi State Bulldogs currently have the inside track to advance out of the Regional, with games continuing Monday after weather delays today. Should Mississippi State advance, Notre Dame will travel to Starkville for their best of three Super Regional series.