HOLLY SPRINGS, NC – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish advance to 7-6 on the season after taking down the St. Joseph’s Hawks 6-3 on Tuesday, March 14, at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, NC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks struck first, scoring two runs from deep hits down the left field line and right field line to take the early 2-0 run. Notre Dame responded in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own. After Williams and Prajzner reached on back-to-back walks, Carter Putz singled to left field. After a throwing error from the SJU’s left fielder, Williams was able to score as Prajzner and Putz each advanced to scoring position on second and third.
Blake Hely took the mound to start the second inning to relieve Matt Bedford and held the Hawks scoreless, giving up only one hit in his four innings pitched.
After a scoreless second inning, Putz stepped up to the plate to rip a homer to deep right field at 440′, coming off of the bat at 107 mph. The Irish led 3-2 heading into the top of the fourth.
Another scoreless fourth kept it at 3-2 heading into the fifth. Similar to the start in the first, Williams and Prajzner would reach again on back-to-back walks. Williams was able to steal third base and Coetzee was hit the pitch, making it bases loaded for Notre Dame with Putz back up to the plate. Putz singled through the side, recording two more RBI as Prajzner and Williams scored to take the 5-2 lead after five innings.
Jack Findlay took the bump starting in the top of the sixth and finished with three strikeouts, allowing two hits and one run across three innings. The Hawks closed the gap to two at 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but Notre Dame would score one more after Jack Penney was walked with bases loaded to score Prajzner.
The Irish led 6-3 to close the seventh and after a scoreless eighth, Notre Dame would bring Carter Bosch to the mound to close. While Hely earned his first win of the season, Bosch would take home his second save.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back in action for game two of the neutral site matchup against Saint Joseph’s before resuming conference play on Friday at Wake Forest.