MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Hits were hard to come by for the third-ranked Notre Dame baseball team but it got them when it mattered to defeat Michigan State, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Irish improved to 2-0 this weekend at the Cambria College Classic with the final game set for Sunday night.
John Michael Bertrand and Ryan McLinskey were dominant on the mound for the Irish (7-1), as they allowed just one run and one walk, while striking out eight Spartan (4-5) batters. The Irish only mustered two hits but made them count as both led to the two runs on the afternoon. TJ Williams doubled, advanced to third on an error and scored in the fifth and Jack Brannigan hit the go-ahead solo home run in the seventh to give the Irish their seventh win on the season.
How It Happened
Runs were hard to come by early in the game as neither team could get on the scoreboard through the first four innings. The Irish did not get their first hit of the game until the fifth inning but Bertrand was dealing himself and kept the game level early on.
Williams recorded the first hit of the game with a double down the left field line. The Spartan left field misplayed the ball and Williams ended up at third base. Brooks Coetzee III was up next and his fly ball to right field was deep enough to score Williams and give the Irish a 1-0 lead.
Michigan State got on the board in the seventh as they strung a few hits together to score a run and tie the game at 1-1. Bertrand started a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning and keep the score level.
The tie game did not last long as the Irish reclaimed the lead with their first at-bat in the bottom of the seventh. Brannigan battled to a 3-2 count and turned on a pitch that cleared the wall in left. It was Brannigan’s first home run of the season and the Irish were up 2-1.
McLinskey came in to relieve Bertrand in the eighth. Bertrand’s final line was 7.0 innings, six hits, one run, one walk and four strikeouts. It was the third-straight start this season that he pitched six or more innings.
McLinskey did not offer the Spartans any chance to tie the game as he retired all six batters he faced. He struck out four of the six batters en route to his second save this season with the Irish.
Up Next
The Irish will close out the Cambria College Classic with the hosts, Minnesota, Sunday night from U.S. Bank Stadium. The Irish and Gophers are set to face off at 6 p.m. ET in the final game of the weekend round-robin tournament.
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