Notre Dame baseball nearly blew a four-run lead in the ninth inning at Michigan State, but the Irish managed to escape East Lansing, Mich., with a 4-3 victory Tuesday night.
Irish closer Nate Hardman was handed a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, and he retired the first batter he faced. But then Hardman allowed a single and a walk before Greg Ziegler hit a home run to left center.
Hardman recovered to force a fly out and ground out to end the game and record his fourth save of the season.
Notre Dame (23-20) built its four-run lead over Michigan State (19-22) with a solo homer by catcher Joey Spence in the third inning and a three-run seventh. First baseman Connor Hincks played shortstop Jack Penney with a groundout. Right fielder TIto Flores knocked in second baseman Estevan Moreno with a sacrifice fly. Then third baseman Simon Baumgardt stole home on a double steal with pinch hitter Brady Gumpf stealing second.
Notre Dame managed only three hits in the game with one each for center fielder TJ Williams (double), Gumpf (single) and Spence (homer).
Four pitchers combined to pitch eight scoreless innings for Notre Dame. Starter DJ Helwig allowed one hit, issued one walk and hit one batter while striking out two in three innings. Caden Spivey pitched two hitless innings with one walk and one strikeout. Will Jacobsen (2-0) retired all six of the batters he faced, struck out one and received the victory. Tim McDonough allowed one hit and struck out one in the eighth.
Notre Dame will host Pittsburgh (18-23, 5-16) for three-game series starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. EDT on ACCNX.
BOX SCORE: Notre Dame 4, Michigan State 3
Irish closer Nate Hardman was handed a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, and he retired the first batter he faced. But then Hardman allowed a single and a walk before Greg Ziegler hit a home run to left center.
Hardman recovered to force a fly out and ground out to end the game and record his fourth save of the season.
Notre Dame (23-20) built its four-run lead over Michigan State (19-22) with a solo homer by catcher Joey Spence in the third inning and a three-run seventh. First baseman Connor Hincks played shortstop Jack Penney with a groundout. Right fielder TIto Flores knocked in second baseman Estevan Moreno with a sacrifice fly. Then third baseman Simon Baumgardt stole home on a double steal with pinch hitter Brady Gumpf stealing second.
Notre Dame managed only three hits in the game with one each for center fielder TJ Williams (double), Gumpf (single) and Spence (homer).
Four pitchers combined to pitch eight scoreless innings for Notre Dame. Starter DJ Helwig allowed one hit, issued one walk and hit one batter while striking out two in three innings. Caden Spivey pitched two hitless innings with one walk and one strikeout. Will Jacobsen (2-0) retired all six of the batters he faced, struck out one and received the victory. Tim McDonough allowed one hit and struck out one in the eighth.
Notre Dame will host Pittsburgh (18-23, 5-16) for three-game series starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. EDT on ACCNX.
BOX SCORE: Notre Dame 4, Michigan State 3
