Box Score (PDF) | Knoxville Super Regional Central
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — 20 years to the day from the last time Notre Dame beat the No. 1 team in the country, the Irish (39-14) did it again in their 8-6 win over top-ranked Tennessee (56-8) in the first game of the Knoxville Super Regional. The Irish hit four home runs in the win, the most home runs the Volunteers have given up in a game this season.
The Irish four home runs all came in the first four innings of the game. Carter Putz hit a two-run blast in the first, Jared Miller with a solo shot in the second, Jack Zyska added a two-run homer in the third and Jack Brannigan hit the final one, a three-run blast in the fourth to build the lead.
On the mound, Austin Temple, Alex Rao, Matt Bedford and Jack Findlay navigated one of the best offenses in the country. Rao picked up the win after 3.2 innings of relief work and Jack Findlay picked up his third save. Findlay closed out the third-straight game for the Irish after finishing off the final 2.0 innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish did not waste any time and scored in the game’s opening frame. Ryan Cole laced a single to left field on the first pitch of the game and advanced to third after a stolen base and error. Facing a 2-2 count and one away, Putz took a hanging slider off the scoreboard in right for a two-run shot. It was Putz’s seventh home run of the season and the Irish led 2-0.
Tennessee was threatening in the bottom of the first as they got the first two runners on base. Temple settled in and got a 6-4-3 double play and then a ground out to Miller to end the frame and keep the Volunteers off the scoreboard.
In the second, the Irish added on to its lead. In his first start since May 14, Miller launched a solo shot into the parking lot in right center. His fourth home run of the season gave the Irish a 3-0 lead after two innings.
The Irish continued the home run onslaught in the third inning with their third of the game. Putz was in the box with two outs and singled into left field to keep the inning going. Zyska stepped in and took 1-1 pitch the other way into the parking lot for a two run homer. His team-leading 12th home run put the Irish ahead 5-0.
Tennessee got a run back in the bottom of the third but the Irish immediately answered in the fourth with another two-out home run. With two runners in scoring position, Brannigan turned on a 0-1 pitch and cleared the entire bleachers in left for a three-run shot. His 11th home run of the season gave the Irish an 8-1 advantage.
The Vols continued to claw back in the bottom of the fourth as they scored a run on a solo home run. After four full frames, the Irish led 8-2.
Tennessee continued to trim the lead in the bottom of the sixth. They hit another solo home run to trim the lead to 8-3.
The Volunteers got two runs back in the seventh and the lead was trimmed to 8-5 heading into the final two innings.
Findlay came on over the final two innings and allowed just one run to seal the win for the Irish. It was his third save of the season and they all came in the previous three games.
UP NEXT
The Irish will take the field on Saturday in hopes of clinching their third trip to Omaha in program history. The second game of the Super Regional takes place at 2 p.m. ET and will air nationally on ESPN. Left-handed pitcher John Michael Bertrand takes the mound for the Irish and will go up against right-hander Chase Dollander for the Vols.
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