Crusaders Venture To The Eck

April 25, 2017

By Michael Scholl

Five Things To Know

• The Notre Dame baseball team opens a 13-game homestand on Tuesday night when it plays host to Valparaiso at 6:05 p.m. It’s Baseball Bingo Tuesday at Frank Eck Stadium. Fans can pick up a bingo card at the entrance for the chance to win prizes as they play along throughout the game. Those unable to make it to the game can watch on ACC Network Extra (via WatchESPN) or listen on WatchND and 103.1 FM.
• Ryan Smoyer is slated to start for the Irish, up against Valpo’s Michael Mommersteeg. Smoyer has made three starts on the year with a 2-2 record. He has won his two most recent starts, an 8-3 win over Toledo on April 12 and a 7-6 victory over Illinois State on April 19. In those two starts, Smoyer struck out five in nine innings of work while allowing five earned runs. Mommersteeg enters with a 1-1 mark and 2.84 ERA. He earned his first career win in his last outing, a 10-3 Crusader win over Chicago State.
• Notre Dame and Valparaiso will meet for the 99th time on Tuesday, with the Irish holding a 77-21 edge in the series and a 52-10 advantage in games played at Notre Dame. The Irish have won five straight in the series and 15 of the last 16. The lone Crusader win in that stretch came in 2012, a 7-4 win at Frank Eck Stadium. Last year, the Irish won, 3-1, as southpaw Michael Hearne went the distance for the Irish on just 91 pitches. Cavan Biggio was 1-for-3 with two RBI and Nick Podkul knocked in the other run for Notre Dame.
• The Irish will look to continue an impressive run against teams outside the top 25 on Tuesday night. Dating back to an 8-4 victory over Rhode Island on March 4, Notre Dame is 16-2 against unranked opponents. The lone losses in that stretch came in ACC series against Pitt and NC State, with Notre Dame still winning two-of-three in each of those respective three-gamers. Notre Dame has been equally impressive at Frank Eck Stadium, posting a 10-4 mark on its home diamond this year including wins in the last six home dates.
• Mik Aoki’s club is opening a 13-game homestand on Tuesday, which continues on Wednesday with a visit from Eastern Michigan at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday is Dollar Dog Night and National Pretzel Day at The Eck. Vouchers for both $1 hot dogs and free pretzels will be available for early-arriving fans. As with every home game, fans will be able to watch live on ACC Network Extra and listen live on WatchND & 103.1 FM.

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Michael Scholl joined Fighting Irish Media in August 2016, coordinating communications for the baseball program and assisting with the football team at his alma mater. The South Bend native earned a degree in political science from the College of Arts & Letters in 2009 before going on to work in athletics communications at Providence College, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati.