Notre Dame entered its regular-series-ending, three-game series at Louisville Thursday with tiebreak advantages over the other three ACC teams chasing the final two sports in next week’s ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C.
That meant the Irish, winners of seven of its last eight games and 12 of 15 going in, could clinch a spot in the 12-team tourney that excludes two teams by winning two of three against the Cardinals without needing help elsewhere.
Now Notre Dame could use some help after dropping both ends of a Thursday doubleheader to Louisville, 5-3 and 5-1. The Irish still control their own destiny if they can win the final game of the series, which is set for Friday at 4 p.m. (EDT), thanks to Clemson and Miami.
The Irish are 9-20 in ACC play after losing both games to Louisville. Fourth-ranked Clemson rallied late at home to trip Boston College, 12-10, in the first game of their series on Thursday evening. The Eagles are 8-20 with two games to go.
Miami and Pitt were the other two teams that started the day trying to grab the 11th or 12th seed in the ACC Tourney, and they were playing each other in Miami. The Hurricanes (11-17) prevailed, 5-3, and clinched the No. 11 seed, while leaving the Panthers at 8-20 with two games to go.
Notre Dame this season is 7-2 against the three teams it started the day battling for playoff inclusion and is 2-18 against the rest of its ACC schedule. The last time the Irish were excluded from the field was 2016, when it was a 10-team format. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just three years ago, the Irish were the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. Its 2022 College World Series team was a No. 4 seed and last year’s team was seeded eighth.
In game one Friday. Jack Penney’s eighth-inning RBI single pulled Notre Dame (27-24 overall) into a 3-3 tie, and the Irish loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth. But catcher Tony Lindwedel, hitting .061, grounded into an inning-ending double play.
And in the bottom of the ninth, Louisville shortstop Gavin Kilen drove a one-out pitch from Irish reliever Toby McDonough over the right-field fence for a game-winning, two-run homer.
Cardinal outfielder Eddie King Jr. homered twice and drove in three for Louisville (31-22, 15-14 ACC), which was outhit by the Irish, 10-7.
David Glancy, Penney and Connor Hincks had two hits each for the Irish, with one of Glancy’s being a solo home run. Brady Gumpf also homered.
In the nightcap Glancy’s team-leading 15th home run of the season was all the scoring the Irish could muster in the 5-1 loss. Evan Webster (5-2) and Kaleb Corbett limited the Irish to three hits.
King homered again and drove in two for the Cardinals in game 2.
LOUISVILLE 5, NOTRE DAME 3: Box Score
LOUISVILLE 5, NOTRE DAME 1: Box Score
That meant the Irish, winners of seven of its last eight games and 12 of 15 going in, could clinch a spot in the 12-team tourney that excludes two teams by winning two of three against the Cardinals without needing help elsewhere.
Now Notre Dame could use some help after dropping both ends of a Thursday doubleheader to Louisville, 5-3 and 5-1. The Irish still control their own destiny if they can win the final game of the series, which is set for Friday at 4 p.m. (EDT), thanks to Clemson and Miami.
The Irish are 9-20 in ACC play after losing both games to Louisville. Fourth-ranked Clemson rallied late at home to trip Boston College, 12-10, in the first game of their series on Thursday evening. The Eagles are 8-20 with two games to go.
Miami and Pitt were the other two teams that started the day trying to grab the 11th or 12th seed in the ACC Tourney, and they were playing each other in Miami. The Hurricanes (11-17) prevailed, 5-3, and clinched the No. 11 seed, while leaving the Panthers at 8-20 with two games to go.
Notre Dame this season is 7-2 against the three teams it started the day battling for playoff inclusion and is 2-18 against the rest of its ACC schedule. The last time the Irish were excluded from the field was 2016, when it was a 10-team format. The 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just three years ago, the Irish were the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. Its 2022 College World Series team was a No. 4 seed and last year’s team was seeded eighth.
In game one Friday. Jack Penney’s eighth-inning RBI single pulled Notre Dame (27-24 overall) into a 3-3 tie, and the Irish loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth. But catcher Tony Lindwedel, hitting .061, grounded into an inning-ending double play.
And in the bottom of the ninth, Louisville shortstop Gavin Kilen drove a one-out pitch from Irish reliever Toby McDonough over the right-field fence for a game-winning, two-run homer.
Cardinal outfielder Eddie King Jr. homered twice and drove in three for Louisville (31-22, 15-14 ACC), which was outhit by the Irish, 10-7.
David Glancy, Penney and Connor Hincks had two hits each for the Irish, with one of Glancy’s being a solo home run. Brady Gumpf also homered.
In the nightcap Glancy’s team-leading 15th home run of the season was all the scoring the Irish could muster in the 5-1 loss. Evan Webster (5-2) and Kaleb Corbett limited the Irish to three hits.
King homered again and drove in two for the Cardinals in game 2.
LOUISVILLE 5, NOTRE DAME 3: Box Score
LOUISVILLE 5, NOTRE DAME 1: Box Score
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