SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish advanced to 26-17 on the season and 14-11 in the ACC after defeating NC State 9-7 on Thursday, May 4. The Irish recorded 14 hits in the game one win at Frank Eck, taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure to the 9-7 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Carter Putz started the Irish offense with a double to left center field, followed by a bunt from Jack Penney to put runners on first and third. An RBI single to right field from Vinny Martinez scored Putz and put the Irish on the board.
The Irish held NC State scoreless in the second as Notre Dame would score two runs in the bottom frame. DM Jefferson led off with a base hit as he was followed by Brady Gumpf with a double to left center. The Irish took a 3-0 lead as TJ Williams sent home Jefferson on a sac bunt, followed by a Zack Prajzner RBI single to center field to score Gumpf.
A four-run inning from the Wolfpack in the top of the third put NC State on top at 4-3.It didn’t take long for the Irish to tie it up in the fourth, as Williams sent it to center field for a three bagger and was scored on a sac fly from Prajzner to make it an even 4-4 going into the fifth.
NC State sent home two more runs in the fifth, taking the 6-4 advantage over the Irish. Notre Dame’s offense was sparked in the bottom of the sixth, with base hits from Moreno, Williams, and Prajzner, as well as a double from Putz. The Irish recorded three runs in the frame to retake the lead at 7-6.
The Wolfpack wasn’t going anywhere as they responded right away with a home run in the seventh to make it an even game yet again at 7-7.
While the Irish followed with a scoreless frame, Notre Dame’s offense in the eighth inning would lift them to a two-run lead. Putz led off and reached via a walk, but to no one’s surprise, was scored by another Martinez home run. This was Martinez’s third game in a row where he recorded a home run as his 10th homer of the season gave the Irish the 9-7 lead and eventual game one victory. The Irish defense would go three up, three down in the ninth to secure the win.
Aidan Tyrell started on the mound for the Irish, pitching 4.2 innings, striking out three batters, and finishing with six earned runs on eight hits. He was relieved by Radek Birkholz, who recorded his first win of the season. Birkholz threw 3.1 innings, recording two strikeouts and allowing just one run and one hit. Will Mercer closed for the Irish, pitching just 1.0 inning as he took home his third save of the season.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back at Frank Eck Stadium at 5 PM on Friday, May 5, for game two of the three-game series against the Wolfpack.