TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The 13th-ranked Notre Dame baseball team ground out a 2-0 win over fifth-ranked Florida State in 12 innings Friday night at Dick Howser Stadium. Both pitching staffs kept the offenses in check as the Irish (14-5, 3-4 ACC) and Seminoles (16-9, 6-4 ACC) were unable to score over the first nine innings.
It remained scoreless until the 12th inning when Ryan Cole broke the deadlock with a two-run home run into the bullpen in left field. It was his second home run of the season and gave the Irish the first lead of the night. After getting the final two outs in the 11th, Alex Rao closed the door in the 12th to secure the series-opening win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A pitcher’s duel broke out as two of the best pitchers in the ACC were on the mound. Neither pitcher allowed a runner to reach base through the first three innings and the first hit of the game did not come until the bottom of the fifth.
John Michael Bertrand had one of his best outings of the season as he racked up 10 strikeouts through the first six innings. It is the second time in his career that he has eclipsed the double-digit strikeout mark and he allowed just three hits in the first six frames.
In the seventh inning, Bertrand struck out two more to set a career high with 12 strikeouts on the night. He surpassed his previous high of 11 that was set earlier this season against Monmouth.
Bertrand got the first two outs in the eighth but a double just fell down in fair territory which had the Irish going to the bullpen. Ryan McLinskey came on in relief and got the final out of the inning to get the Irish to the ninth.
McLinskey was back out in the bottom of the ninth and set the Seminoles down in order. He struck out two in the frame to send the game to extras at 0-0.
McLinskey, Aidan Tyrell and Rao combined to get the Irish through the 10th and 11th innings as the score remained tied at 0.
In the 12th inning with the go-ahead run on third, Cole faced a 2-2 count at the plate with two outs. He laced the next pitch he saw to left that cleared the wall and landed in the bullpen for the home run. This was the second time Cole has hit a home run in extras against an ACC opponent, as he hit a two-run walk-off home run against Duke in the 13th inning last season.
Rao came back out to shut the door in the 12th for the Irish. He set the Seminoles down in order and struck out the final batter he faced, the 18th strikeout by the Irish on the night.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Seminoles will battle it out on Saturday in the middle game of the series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET from Dick Howser Stadium and the game will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra.
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