Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Irish Garner Preseason Recognition

Jan. 29, 2018

By Megan Golden

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The preseason accolades continue to roll in for the University of Notre Dame baseball team.

Perfect Game released its preseason all-conference teams, and Irish outfielder Matt Vierling was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team. The outlet also recognized Irish right-handed pitcher Joe Boyle as the No. 2-ranked college freshman.

Vierling earned All-ACC honors in 2017 after leading the Irish in batting average (.330), slugging percentage (.549), RBI (42) and homers (seven). Vierling, a junior, led the team in multi-hit games (22) and multi-RBI games (11) last season.

Vierling and infielder Nick Podkul each received All-ACC honorable mention recognition from College Baseball Daily.

The Saint Louis, Missouri, native also made 10 appearances on the mound, recording two saves. Vierling was one of two Notre Dame players to start all 58 games last season.

Boyle, who hails from Goshen, Kentucky, was named first team all-state after a senior season in which he threw 40.0 innings and recorded a 2.00 ERA with 84 strikeouts. Boyle was named a Rawlings Perfect Game All-American as well as an Under Armour All-American in 2017.

Podkul, who saw the majority of his time at second base in 2017, also started all 58 games and recorded 17 multi-hit games on the year. Podkul ranked second on the team with a .439 slugging percentage and was third in average (.285).

For a behind-the-scenes look at the Irish baseball program, follow @NDBaseball on Twitter and @NotreDameBaseball on Instagram. For tickets to an Irish baseball game, click here.

–ND–

Megan Golden, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since August of 2016. In her role, she coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame baseball and women’s soccer programs. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Golden is a 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s College and former Irish women’s basketball manager. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame, she worked in public relations with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.