WINSTON-SALEM, NC – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the No. 4 Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the final game of the three-game series on Sunday, March 19 at the David F. Couch Ballpark in Winston-Salem, NC. Wake Forest was undefeated 14-0 at home so far this season until Notre Dame took game three by a score of 3-1. The Irish are now 9-8 on the season and 2-3 in conference as they head into their home opener on Tuesday against Valpo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both the Irish and Demon Deacons went three up, three down in the first inning as Jack Findlay started the day with two strikeouts in the bottom of the first.
The Irish offense sparked in the top of the second with a double to right center from Carter Putz, who scored after Jack Zyska hit a single to left field. The Irish posted an early 1-0 lead, while Findlay continued to shut down the Demon Deacons from the mound as he closed the first two innings with three strikeouts.
DM Jefferson started the third with a lead-off single to center field and advanced to second on a passed ball with TJ Williams up to bat. Jefferson was able to score and tack on another run for the Irish as an RBI single from Brooks Coetzee brought Jefferson home for the 2-0 lead. It was another three up, three down for Wake Forest as Findlay recorded another two strikeouts in the bottom of the third.
It was a scoreless fourth and fifth for both the Irish and the Demon Deacons, but Notre Dame would go on to score another run in the top of the sixth. Coetzee led off the inning with a double to right center field, which was followed by a walk from Putz. With runners on first and second and Jack Penney up to bat, Coetzee was able to steal third on a wild pitch. Penney reached on a fielder’s choice, recording an RBI as Coetzee ran home to give the Irish a 3-0 edge heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Findlay recorded his 10th strikeout of the day before he was relieved by Blake Hely with two outs in the sixth. Findlay absolutely dominated from the mound, throwing 10 strikes across 5.2 innings and allowing just two hits and no runs. Hely finished the inning with a full count strikeout to close the sixth as the Irish held the Demon Deacons scoreless 3-0.
After a scoreless seventh, Wake Forest would score their first and only run of the day after a double to left field was followed by an advancement to third on an Irish error from centerfield. The Demon Deacons would finally come home on a passed ball to make it a 3-1 ball game after eight. Both the Irish and Demon Deacons would go three up, three down in the ninth as Will Mercer closed on the mound with the final strikeout of the day for the Irish to take home the 3-1 win.
UP NEXT
The Irish open up at home at Frank Eck Stadium on Tuesday, March 21 against Valpo. The Irish will resume conference play as they host No. 2 Louisville for a three-game series starting Friday, March 24.