April 22, 2009

Notre Dame vs. Michigan
April 22, 2009

• Freshman Ryan Richter (South Bend, Ind.) registered his second career start. The southpaw did allow the first home run of his career, a solo shot off the bat of Michigan freshman Coley Frank in the top of the second inning. Richter allowed three earned runs on five hits in 5.0 innings of work. He registered his fourth victory of the season, which is tied with sophomore Cole Johnson (Hudson, Ohio) and sophomore Brian Dupra (Rochester, N.Y.) for second-best of the squad.

• Sophomore Todd Miller (Franklin, Tenn.) recorded his first career save. The right-handed hurler fanned three in 2.0 innings of hitless relief. Miller did issue a walk, but the free pass was gunned down on a steal attempt in the top of the seventh inning.

• Senior Jeremy Barnes (Garland, Texas) registered his two RBI on the night, which give him 44 for the season and 171 for his career. Barnes moved past Brant Ust (1997-99) into sole possession of ninth place on the all-time Irish RBI list. Ironically, Ust was in attendance. He serves as the Wolverines volunteer assistant coach.

• Sophomore Mick Doyle (LaGrange Park, Ill.) gave the Irish a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with his sixth sacrifice fly of the season. The six sac flies are tied for the most in the BIG EAST.

• Notre Dame continued to struggle with runners in scoring position, more specifically with the bases loaded. The Irish, who went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-3 with the bases loaded in the first game, went hitless in the first four at bats in the second game with runners in scoring position. In fact, Notre Dame loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning and failed to plate a single run. The Irish were just 2-for-their-last-13 with the bases loaded following the inning.

• Notre Dame stranded five more base runners, four in scoring position, over the first four innings of the nightcap.

• Notre Dame had the leadoff runner reach base in five of the seven innings of the opener and two more times over the first five innings of the second game, but managed to score in just two of those innings.

• The Irish again loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning with no outs. Barnes finally came through with a hit with the bases loaded as the shortstop laced a two-run single. It was Notre Dame’s first hit on the night in six at bats with the bases loaded.

• Ironically, the Irish finally came through with four runs in the fifth inning, but did so on just one base hit. Notre Dame also plated runs on a walk and sacrifice fly.

— ND —