It’s safe to say that the Irish felt disrespected by their seeding in the NCAA Tournament. The committee forced Notre Dame to the road this past weekend, but it didn’t matter one bit.
The Irish played some fantastic baseball during the Statesboro Regional, winning their first two games, once against Texas Tech and then host Georgia Southern. Tonight’s rematch against the Red Raiders, with a one-game cushion, was all that was standing in front of the Irish for a return trip to the NCAA Super Regional round.
Once again, Texas Tech wasn’t up for the challenge, as the Irish, behind ace [autotag]John Michael Bertrand[/autotag], finished off the weekend sweep and sent [autotag]Link Jarrett[/autotag] and Notre Dame to another Super Regional berth.
The staff ace, JMB, was able to get back on the mound due to game one’s rain, as he pitched just one inning which kept him fresh for today’s series-clinching win. The senior did what he has done all season, limiting runs and putting the Irish in position to win his start. Bertrand did tire in the eighth, allowed a run but [autotag]Jack Findlay[/autotag] came in and struck out a Texas Tech batter with the bases loaded to preserve the Irish lead at 2-1.
END 8 | @JFindlay4 gets a strikeout and keeps the Irish in the lead!!!!!!
📹 ESPN+
ND 2, TT 1#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/0laTxu4CBT
— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) June 6, 2022
It wouldn’t be easy for Findlay in the 9th, a single followed by a walk would put two runners on with just one out. The freshman would battle back and get the save, the Irish escaping with a 2-1 victory.
FINAL: Notre Dame 2, Texas Tech 1
Irish advance to the Super Regionals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history!!!!!#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/dLjQiGn80m
— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) June 6, 2022
The Irish will once again be just two wins away from Omaha.
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