Notre Dame Baseball travels to Tallahassee in a reunion series

Jarrett goes back home

Link Jarrett is going somewhere familiar, back to Tallahassee, Florida as Notre Dame gets set to face off against Florida State. Jarrett was a four-year starter for the Seminoles from 1991-94, going to the College World Series three of his four seasons there. Jarrett still holds an NCAA records, most assists with 802 over his career.

The two teams are set to face-off in a top-15 ACC conference matchup. The Irish have yet to announce their starter for game two, but ace John Michael Bertrand will head to the mound this evening while Austin Temple will finish off the series on Friday. Both teams have been very solid this season, and this will be a huge test for the Irish after they finally broke their four-game losing streak.

First pitch is set for 7pm EST, with the action being broadcasted on the ACC Network. Hopefully Bertrand starts the Irish off well in this series.

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The streak is over, Notre Dame Baseball gets back in win column

That was a long two weeks

It has been a very difficult two weeks for the Irish baseball team. First getting swept at Louisville, having their midweek game against Northwestern postponed, then losing the series opener to Virginia Tech and having the weather cancel the remainder of the series. Notre Dame last won a game on March 15th and two weeks from that date, their four-game losing streak is finally over.

The bats were hot and the pitching was very solid, as the Irish defeated Northern Illinois, 11-2 at Frank Eck Stadium. It must have been a huge weight off the shoulders of the Irish, finally getting a chance to celebrate a win again.

Although starter Liam Simon only went 2 and 2/3 innings, the did enough to set the tone for the pitching staff. He allowed the only runs of the game, one unearned, as the remaining pitchers (Roman Kimball, Jack Findlay, Radek Birkholz and Jackson Dennies) each saw their outings end without giving up a run.

Offensively it was Jared Miller and Zach Prajzner leading the charge, both driving in two runs each with Prajzner topping the team with three hits on the day. The Irish will hit the road this weekend as they travel to Tallahassee to face off against Florida State in a three-game set that begins Friday night.

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Notre Dame doesn’t get another chance to break losing streak vs Virginia Tech

Gotta love Midwestern spring weather

Midwest weather in March is brutal. One day it can be a beautiful 60 degrees with plenty of sunshine, only to tease actual nice spring weather and the harsh climates return to remind us that the days of t-shirts and shorts are still not close for us to enjoy.

That terrible Midwest weather reared it’s ugly head again this weekend, as the cold and rain has put an early end to Notre Dame’s home series against Virginia Tech. Saturday and Sunday’s contests have been canceled, meaning that the Irish will have to wait until Tuesday to break their four-game losing streak.

Unfortunately the Irish did not break that losing streak Friday afternoon, all of which have come at the hands of ACC foes. The Link Jarrett’s team will hope the weather cooperates on Tuesday, as they play host to Northern Illinois.

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Notre Dame Baseball set host Virginia Tech in first ACC home series

The Irish finally host an ACC opponent at home this season

The Irish we not able to play their midweek game against Northwestern for a variety of reasons, but all signs look good for this weekend’s matchup against Virginia Tech. The Hokies are Notre Dame’s first home ACC opponent of the season and the Irish are looking to haul a three-game losing streak.

In an effort to do so, Link Jarrett switched up his starting rotation, with ace John Michael Bertrand set to take the hill in game one. Previous series saw Aidan Tyrell starting the opener, with Bertrand after him and Austin Temple finishing up the series. There is currently not a named starter for game two, which leads many to believe that Jarrett will send his righty, Temple to the mound with Tyrell taking the finale.

This makes plenty of sense after last weeks sweep at the hands of Louisville, with the starters going lefty, righty, lefty, to change the look for the Hokie hitters. The Irish enter the game with a 12-4 record, while VT is 13-6. First pitch is scheduled for 4pm EST at Frank Eck Stadium.

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Notre Dame Baseball looks to end 3-game losing steak as they host Northwestern

We’ll have to wait until tomorrow

It was not the weekend the Irish baseball team envisioned, as Louisville swept them on the road during the weekend. The great part about baseball is that games are played very regularly, so the bitter taste can be erased from Notre Dame’s mouth.

The were supposed to get that opportunity tonight, but they will have to wait until Wednesday as the game has been moved. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30pm EST as the Irish will send lefty Jack Findlay to the mound at Frank Eck Stadium.

It should be the end of the current 3-game losing streak, as the Irish are currently 3-0 against the Big Ten and have been spectacular at home against non-conference foes during Link Jarrett’s tenure, going 17-6.

Hopefully, this is the first game of another winning steak for the Irish, as they will play their next five games without having to travel outside of South Bend.

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Notre Dame baseball can’t keep late lead, gets swept by Louisville

Things didn’t go the Irish’s way all weekend

The Irish entered the weekend as one of the highest rated teams in the country but host Louisville had something to say about that. The Cardinals took the first two games of the series and Notre Dame was looking to salvage the series finale.

Unfortunately, the Irish lost a late lead and once again fell to the Cardinals on get-away-day, 7-5. The score was tied heading into the top of the seventh and after a Carter Putz single that scored Spencer Myers the Irish took a one-run lead, 5-4. The story of the weekend was the fact that Link Jarrett’s team never gave in but just couldn’t find an answer to quiet Louisville’s bats after taking leads. The Cardinals would the score three runs in the bottom of the eights, to finish off the sweep.

It was a forgettable weekend for the Irish, who have not lost their last three games and have fallen to a 12-4 record. The Irish return to their home diamond on Tuesday as they host Northwestern, before hosting Virginia Tech over the weekend.

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Notre Dame Baseball drops second game against Louisville

The Irish lose this game late

The Irish were in a pitchers duel for the majority of game two, with John Michael Bertrand leading the way for the Irish for the majority of the game. The Notre Dame ace pitched 6 and 1/3 innings allowing just one earned run, but the bullpen struggled for the second consecutive day.

The one run given up by Bertrand was the first run of the game, the Irish answering with a run of their own on a Jack Brannigan solo home-run in the top of the 8th. Like game one, the Louisville bats always seemed to answer when the Irish plated a run. The Cardinals scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth, sending Notre Dame to their first series loss of the season.

It marks the first time all season that Link Jarrett’s team has lost two games in-a-row, even though they still hold a very impressive 12-3 records. The final game of the series again Louisville will be played on Sunday at 1:00pm EST.

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Notre Dame Baseball sweeps rain shortened series against NC State

Make that 9-in-a-row

Once again the Irish come out on top of ACC another series, this time just a two-game set against host North Carolina State. Friday evening saw Link Jarrett’s team battle back late to erase a four-run deficit and ultimately get an extra inning win.

Saturday’s game was canceled due to rain, so Sunday’s finale would determine if the Irish would win the series or return to South Bend with a split. Notre Dame would not be denied another series win, notching a 11-4 victory and extend their winning steak to nine games and starting the ACC conference schedule with two wins and no losses.

Although the Irish never trailed on Sunday, the Wolfpack did make it close. After four and a half innings, the visitors led 4-0 but NC State wouldn’t roll over that easily. They scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Saturday rain out helped the Irish in this situation.

John Michael Bertrand, who was scheduled to start the middle game, instead started the finale, going five innings allowing three runs. Austin Temple, who was supposed to start on Sunday, came in relief of Bertrand and finished out the game with four strong innings, allowing just one run. They combined for nine strikeouts, and the Irish bats did the rest.

A pair of runs in the top of the eighth, followed by a handful in the top of the ninth sealed the game for the Irish. Carter Putz was the catalyst at the dish, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Jared Miller scored three runs while adding his second steal of the season.

The 11-4 getaway day win improved the Notre Dame record to 11-1 as they once again stand on top of the ACC Atlantic division standings. Three other teams are undefeated in conference play, but each of them (North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia Tech) are on the Coastal division.

The Irish will finally host a game in South Bend, as they welcome in Valparaiso on Tuesday afternoon at 4:00pm CST.

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Notre Dame Baseball comes back against NC State and wins in extra innings

Eight in a row, this time with some dramatics

It wasn’t a game that the Irish were accustomed too, coming from behind has not been something this team has done much of this season. That was the case on Friday night however, as the Irish saw a late 4-0 deficit entering the seventh inning.

That’s when the bats came alive and the Irish scratched out three runs in the seventh and the tying run in the eighth to even the score at four and force extras. It was Carter Putz’s solo home run to start the scoring for Notre Dame and Jack Brannigan finished off the comeback.

The game would extend into the twelfth inning when the Irish bats once again came alive. Four runs in that inning once again highlighted by a long ball, this time by Zack Prajzner.

The story wasn’t just about the Irish bats, it was the bullpen. Starter Aidan Tyrell wasn’t his sharpest, giving up four runs over four innings. Then Alex Rao, Radek Birkholz, Ryan McLinskey and Brannigan took over. They combined for nine innings without allowing a run and striking out 11 batters.

Although the win improved the Irish to 10-1, this game could be looked at as the starting point to another run at the ACC regular season title. If the Irish were to repeat as regular season champs, it would be the first time in program history that feat was accomplished. They have won consecutive conference tournament championships, the last time being the stretch from 2002-2006 when they won the Big East Conference tournament title every year.

The Irish continue their three-games series against the the Wolfpack this afternoon as they try and keep their 8-game winning streak alive.

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Notre Dame Baseball’s starting rotation is set for their ACC opening series

Don’t mess with success

The ACC season finally begins for the Irish this weekend, as Friday night they will be in Raleigh, North Carolina to face off against host North Carolina State for a three-game set.

As noted earlier this week, Link Jarrett’s pitchers have been absolutely phenomenal early this year, leading the nation in ERA. A lot of that is due to the starting rotation and the three starters remain the same against the Wolfpack. Jarrett won’t mess with success as he will send out Aidan Tyrell in game one, followed by John Michael Bertrand in the second contest and finishing with Austin Temple on getaway day.

The Irish enter the weekend series on a seven-game winning streak and a 9-1 overall record. NC State will be the first true challenge for the Irish this season, as they are ranked in the Top-25 also and carry a 9-4 record into the weekend series.

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