This past weekend, the Irish took the field against the Purdue Boilermakers looking to settle unfinished business from the fall, when CBND tied Purdue in a tournament game. Now with a record of 7-1-1, the Irish were ready to prove that they were the better team.

Game 1 got off to a rocky start when the Boilermakers put up 3 runs in the top of the 1^st inning on starter Dom Nunag (6 IP, 3 ER, 6 K). The Irish got on the board in the 3^rd inning with 2 runs, including a CBI (Corcoran Batted In) single to left field by catcher Jens Rataczak (1-4, 2 RBI). Nunag, reliever Andrew Conces (W, 1 IP, 2K), and an error-free Irish defense kept the game at this score heading into the bottom of the 7^th inning. The Irish started a rally in the last frame when pinch-hitter Andrew Turzai walked to lead off the inning. After two singles and a Purdue error, Matt Babuskow came to the plate with one out, the score tied, and the bases loaded. Babuskow—who entered the game in the 4^th inning when Mike Massaro was injured on a HBP—came out swinging and singled to right on the first pitch of the at-bat for a walkoff victory. Irish win 4-3!

Game 2 got started in similar fashion, when Purdue scored 1 in the top of the 1^st. However, this one proved to be a back and forth affair. The Irish responded in the bottom of the 2^nd when Jack Corcoran (2-3, 2 RBI) singled on a line drive to center field. The tied ballgame did not last long, as the Boilermakers tallied 1 run in the top of the 3^rd on starter Sean Hager (W, 6 IP, 7 K, 2 ER), but this was the last time Purdue would cross the plate. The Irish took the lead for good in the bottom of the 4^th after the first three batters reached base, a Jack Corcoran sac-fly, and an RBI-walk by Tony Kestel. The Irish tacked on 1 more run later in the inning on another RBI-walk by Andrew Rockamann. This 4-2 lead was all that Hager needed as he shut down the Boilermaker bats for the rest of his outing. Reliever Tim Eiden (SV, 1 IP, 2 K) closed the door in the 7^th, picking up the save. Irish win 4-2!

In the 9-inning Game 3, the Irish again struggled to keep Purdue off the board in the top of the 1^st, but the Irish quickly responded this time with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the 1^st, taking the lead 3-1. Purdue struck again in the 3^rd inning and the Irish went to their bullpen in the 4^th when Conor Fitzgerald (W, 2.2 IP, 0 H, 2 ER) replaced starter Danny Bicknell (3 IP, 5 ER, 1 K). The Irish trailed 5-3 heading into the 5^th inning, when they put 5 runs in each of the next two frames. The Irish’s two long innings were a result of consecutive tough at-bats, in which the Irish refused to make an out. The rallies included 9 singles, 5 walks, and a sacrifice fly. The team had no problems hanging on to this 13-7 lead for the remainder of the game. Tim Eiden closed this one out with 2 IP, 4 K, and 0 BB. Highlight performers at the dish for the Irish include Nick Gron (2-4, 3 R, 1 BB), Joe Corcoran (2-5, 3 RBI), and Jack Corcoran (1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB).

Not only did the Irish sweep Purdue this weekend, but they captured their first D1 wins against the Boilermakers. The Irish improve to 10-1-1 on the season and 6-0 in the conference. Easter break is this coming weekend but the team is gearing up for a 3-game set at the University of Illinois on Saturday 4/7 and Sunday 4/8. This series will have serious post-season implications, as the winning team will be in the driver’s seat in the Great Lakes South Conference. Stay tuned!

Full stats available: https://gc.com/t/fall-2017/notre-dame-club-baseball-59b94610ed7f03f55c000001 

After a successful fall season in which the team went 4-1-1, the Irish were back in action this weekend (March 3rd and 4th). Due to inclement weather in South Bend, the team took their talents southeast, to Bishop Chatard High School where they hosted Indiana University for a three game series.

The 9-inning Game One was started on the mound by senior Danny Bicknell, who went 5.1 innings, surrendering 3 runs (1 earned) and striking out 6. This game was back-and-forth early on. The Irish trailed 3-2 when Bicknell was replaced by Andrew Conces (3.2 IP, 6 K, 0 R). The Irish struck in the bottom of the 7^th, when freshman shortstop Jack Molumphy knocked in the tying run on a fielder’s choice and Zach Phillips scored the eventual game winning run on a wild pitch. Conces kept Indiana’s bats silent for the remainder of the game to pick up the W, by a score of 4-3.

In Game Two, the Irish took a 1-0 lead when Molumphy scored when Mike Massaro grounded into a fielder’s choice. Starting pitcher Dom Nunag (4 IP, 6 K, 2 ER) surrendered the lead back to Indiana in the 4^th inning, 2-1. Senior Andrew Skomra gave the Irish two-thirds of an inning in relief before turning it over to Tim Eiden (2.1 IP, 3 K, 0 H, 0 R). The Irish went into the bottom of the 5^th trailing 4-1, when they regained the lead 5-4. Phillips drove in the tying and go-ahead runs on a single to left field. From here, Eiden shut the door and the Irish hung on to win 5-4.

Sophomore transfer Sean Hager took the mound for the Irish in Game Three. He surrendered no runs and no hits over four innings, striking out six, but a high pitch count forced him to exit this game. Hager combined with freshman Kyle Cockrell (3 IP, 4 K) to shutout the Hoosiers in this one. Jens Rataczak knocked in the decisive run in the first inning of this contest, when he singled up the middle to score Joe Corcoran. The Irish blew this one open in the third inning, scoring five runs off of RBIs from Jamie Abrams, Tony Kestel, Joe Corcoran, and Andrew Rockamann. The Irish finished this series off with a 6-0 exclamation point victory.

With the series sweep of Indiana, the Irish improve to 7-1-1 on the year and 3-0 in the Great Lakes South Conference. Spring Break is next week, and then the Irish will be back in action at home against Purdue on March 24/25. Stay tuned!