NOTRE DAME, Indiana — Coming off a season-opening series win over UAB, the University of Notre Dame baseball team hits the road again this weekend to the Lone Star State for the annual Alamo Irish Classic. Notre Dame will play four games in three days against Incarnate Word, Toledo and UTSA at Nelson Wolff Stadium, home of the Triple-A San Antonio Missions. The Irish will host their first game Thursday night against UIW at 7 p.m. ET.
Sheehan Lifts Irish to Opening Day Win
- Tommy Sheehan picked up where he left off in 2019 when he took the ball on opening day against UAB.
- Sheehan tossed seven scoreless innings against the Blazers and did not allow a hit until the sixth inning.
- The lefty from Brielle, N.J. set a career high with nine strikeouts in the outing.
- The Irish did not get a hit until the seventh inning but it was important as Zack Prajzner sent a single to left that score Niko Kavadas to give them a 1-0 lead.
- Notre Dame added three more runs, all on wild pitches to extend their lead before UAB broke through for two runs in the eighth.
- In the ninth, Joe Boyle came in the game and faced the bases loaded and just one out.
- He struck out the final two batters of the game to clinch the save and give the Irish a 4-2 win.
- Following his performance against the Blazers, Tommy Sheehan was named ACC Pitcher of the Week.
Irish Bats and Arms Lead to Series Win Over UAB
- The series was on the line when the Irish and Blazers took the field Sunday afternoon and the Notre Dame bats were ready.
- Coming off a seven run and 14 hit performance on Saturday, the Irish jumped out in front for the third straight game in the series after a two RBI double from David LaManna in the second.
- Niko Kavadas added another run in second but the Blazers tied the game in the third after scoring three runs.
- Kavadas answered back himself in the fifth with a two-run blast to right field to give the Irish a 5-3.
- Notre Dame broke the game open in the eighth when Carter Putz and Jared Miller both hit doubles to bring in multiple runs.
- On the mound, the Irish used a trio of relievers to close the game out after regaining the lead.
- Mitch Megias, Tommy Vail and Joe Boyle set down the final 17 batters of the game and allowed just one baserunner and no hits over the final six innings.
- Boyle came on for the ninth and struck out the side on just 14 pitches. Boyle pitched 1.2 innings over the weekend and recorded a strikeout for each out.
Putz and Miller Lead Irish at the Plate in Opening Weekend
- In a weekend where the Irish totaled 29 hits against UAB, Carter Putz and Jared Miller led the way at the plate.
- After not playing Friday night, Putz picked up for lost time in the final two games of the series.
- Putz tied a career high in both games with three hits and then tied a career high with three runs in Sunday’s win.
- Putz finished the weekend 6-for-8 (.750) from the plate with four runs, two doubles, two RBI and one triple.
- Miller set a career high with four hits on Saturday after going 4-for-4 with two doubles and one run.
- Miller finished the weekend with six hits and a .557 batting average.
Power Surge in Birmingham
- After a pitcher’s duel in game one against UAB, the Irish power flexed its muscle in the final two games of the series.
- The Irish had four home runs over the final two games, all by different players throughout the lineup.
- Zack Prajzner hit the first home run of the season for Notre Dame, a three-run homer in the first inning on Saturday.
- Eric Gilgenbach was next with a two-run homer on Saturday to tie the game in the sixth inning.
- Jack Zyska hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game.
- Niko Kavadas capped the weekend off with the go-ahead two-run home run in Sunday’s rubber match win.
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