April 21, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team has moved into the most recent Collegiate Baseball national poll at No. 24 after winning four of its five games last week, including a BIG EAST series triumph at West Virginia. The Irish, who recently ripped off 11 consecutive victories and now 12 of 13, are ranked in the top 25 for the first time since 2006.
Notre Dame opened last week with a 5-1 victory over Toledo on Tuesday and 5-4 triumph over Northern Illinois on Wednesday. The Irish then took two of three at BIG EAST rival West Virginia (8-4, 6-11, 9-4) this past weekend. The Mountaineers had dropped just two of their previous 22 home games this season.
Since opening the season with a 5-6 record, Notre Dame has won 20 of its last 25 games. The Irish have also jumped out to a 12-3 mark in the BIG EAST – one game ahead of both Cincinnati and St. John’s.
The Irish did not break the top 25 in the Baseball America or USA TODAY/ESPN polls. This week’s National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll has yet to be released.
The Irish will return to action this week at Frank Eck Stadium with a non-conference tilt against Chicago State on Tuesday (6:05 p.m.) before traveling to Memorial Stadium, home of the Fort Wayne Wizards (A affiliate of the San Diego Padres), for a game against IPFW on Wednesday. First-pitch with the Mastodons is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT. Each can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1490 AM and UND.com.
— ND —