Frank DeSico

Irish Drop Finale of 2012 Big 10/BIG EAST Challenge

Feb. 19, 2012

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Notre Dame led 4-1 after five innings and appeared headed for a possible opening weekend sweep of the 2012 Big 10/BIG EAST challenge, but Purdue plated nine runs in the top of the sixth inning and benefited from nine Irish errors along the way in a 15-8 victory Sunday at Al Lang Field. Notre Dame is now 2-1 on the young season, while the Boilermakers improved to 3-0.

Purdue southpaw Sean Collins (1-0) picked up the victory in relief. He allowed one run on three hits in 2.1 innings of work. Collins struck out one and walked one.

Irish senior LHP Ryan Richter (0-1), who made his first appearance for Notre Dame since May 22, 2010 after Tommy John surgery, was charged with the loss. Richter did not register an out and allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit.

Notre Dame continued its onslaught at the plate. The Irish collected 15 more hits and scored eight more runs. Junior 2B Frank DeSico went 3-for-5 with a run scored and RBI, while sophomore 1B Trey Mancini, junior C Joe Hudson, freshman DH Ryan Bull, freshman 3B Phil Mosey and senior SS Tommy Chase all had multiple-hit games.

Mancini went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Hudson went 2-for-4 with another double and two more RBI. Bull went 2-for-5 with an RBI single, Mosey went 2-for-5 with a double and run scored, while Chase went 2-for-5 with a double and run scored.

In addition to Richter, fellow senior LHP Joe Spano made his first appearance since 2010 following Tommy John surgery. Spano last pitched for the Irish on May 12, 2010. He struck out one, walked one and yielded an unearned run on one hit in 0.1 innings of work.

Notre Dame batted .379 (44-for-116) over its three games this weekend and scored 26 runs. The Irish registered at least 12 hits in each game and recorded a slugging percentage of .534.

Hudson, Jagielo and Mancini paced the Irish attack over the weekend. Hudson batted .700 (7-for-10) with three runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI. He slugged 1.600 and also registered a .816 on-base percentage. Jagielo hit .538 (7-for-13) with two runs scored, two doubles and four RBI, while Mancini hit .462 (6-for-13) with six runs scored, one double, one home run and six RBI.

The Irish return to action at 12:05 p.m. ET on Sat., Feb. 25, with a doubleheader against Hofstra at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C.