It didn’t come easy, but the Notre Dame Baseball team showed plenty of resilience on Wednesday night, battling back to get a 9-8 win over Radford in Virginia. The Highlanders jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, something the Irish aren’t accustomed to, making Link Jarrett’s team fight back from multiple deficits.
Starter Dominic Cancellieri gave up those three runs in two innings and the Irish got on the board in the 3rd when Catcher David LaManna drove in DH Carter Putz on a fielder’s choice. The offense got the game back to even at 3 in the top of the 4th after leftfielder Eric Gilgenbach tripled home SS Zach Prajzner and then LaManna singled home Gilgenbach.
TOP 4 | Irish tie it up!!
David LaManna singles to score Gilgenbach from third!!
ND 3, RU 3
📊 https://t.co/CSKMXkaQ7B#GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/KmUQggqn5x
— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) March 11, 2020
Radford took back the lead in the bottom of the 4th off reliever Tommy Vail, but the Irish bat’s woke up and took the lead right back in the top of the 5th. First baseman Niko Kavadas blasted a 2-Run Homer to get the lead back, infielder Jared Miller stole 3rd and scored on an errand throw, 3B Jack Brannigan tripled home Gilgenbach, then CF Spencer Myers finished the scoring with a single bringing home Gilgenbach.
TOP 5 | 5️⃣ run inning for the Irish!!
Spencer Myers singles through the right side and scores Brannigan from third!!
ND 8, RU 4
📊 https://t.co/CSKMXkaQ7B#GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/DUnJlh4wxL
— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) March 11, 2020
Although the Irish would give up three runs in the bottom of the 9th, they would escape Radford with a 9-8 win, Joe Boyle getting the save, their 7th in a row. The Irish win total now sits at 11, which took them until the end of March to attain last year, a stark contrast with Jarrett now at the helm.
FINAL: No. 24 Notre Dame 9, Radford 8⠀
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The Irish come from behind to win their 7️⃣th game in a row!!! @nikkavadas22 hit his 7️⃣th home run of the season and the Irish improved to 11-2, the best start to a season since 2015!!!⠀
⠀#GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/8ilFHBsx1q— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) March 11, 2020
The Irish have one more road series before their home opener, they travel to #2 Louisville this weekend for a 3-game set. It still remains to be seen what the NCAA will rule in regards to athletics with the COVID-19 epidemic.