Notre Dame baseball trailed by at least four runs though each of the first four innings Saturday at Tennessee Tech. But the Irish offense bailed out a shaky start from the pitching staff to pick up a 15-11 victory and clinch a series win after two games.
The Irish (7-2) trailed 4-0 after the first inning, 9-3 after the second inning and 11-7 after the fourth inning. But Notre Dame scored at least three runs in four separate innings to outscore Tennessee Tech (6-4).
Second baseman Estevan Moreno, the No. 8 hitter in the Irish lineup, hit three home runs and knocked in six runs to give Notre Dame a lift.
Leadoff hitter Jack Penney, a junior shortstop, finished 3-for-6 at the plate with a two-run homer, two doubles and three runs scored.
Right fielder Tito Flores went 1-for-6 but still recorded three RBIs. He plated one run in the fifth inning with a ground ball to the shortstop that knocked in center fielder TJ Williams and Penney followed him in on a throwing error. Penney and Williams scored again in the seventh on a Flores single.
Williams, Notre Dame’s No. 9 hitter, reached base all five times he took the batter’s box. He started with an RBI single in the second, then reached twice from getting hit by pitches, once on a walk and a final time with another single.
Notre Dame starting pitcher Jackson Dennies, a senior right-hander, allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits in 1 1/3 innings of work. He allowed a pair of home runs and one double with two strikeouts and one walk and threw 51 pitches.
Sophomore righty Rory Fox (1-0) replaced Dennies in the second inning and ended up picking up the victory. He walked three, struck out four and allowed one hit and two runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Junior righty Ricky Reeth pitched four scoreless inning with four strikeouts and only two hits. Evansville grad transfer Nate Hardman closed the game out with an 11-pitch ninth inning.
The Irish and Golden Eagles will take the diamond Sunday at 2 p.m. EST.
BOX SCORE: Notre Dame 15, Tennessee Tech 11
The Irish (7-2) trailed 4-0 after the first inning, 9-3 after the second inning and 11-7 after the fourth inning. But Notre Dame scored at least three runs in four separate innings to outscore Tennessee Tech (6-4).
Second baseman Estevan Moreno, the No. 8 hitter in the Irish lineup, hit three home runs and knocked in six runs to give Notre Dame a lift.
Leadoff hitter Jack Penney, a junior shortstop, finished 3-for-6 at the plate with a two-run homer, two doubles and three runs scored.
Right fielder Tito Flores went 1-for-6 but still recorded three RBIs. He plated one run in the fifth inning with a ground ball to the shortstop that knocked in center fielder TJ Williams and Penney followed him in on a throwing error. Penney and Williams scored again in the seventh on a Flores single.
Williams, Notre Dame’s No. 9 hitter, reached base all five times he took the batter’s box. He started with an RBI single in the second, then reached twice from getting hit by pitches, once on a walk and a final time with another single.
Notre Dame starting pitcher Jackson Dennies, a senior right-hander, allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits in 1 1/3 innings of work. He allowed a pair of home runs and one double with two strikeouts and one walk and threw 51 pitches.
Sophomore righty Rory Fox (1-0) replaced Dennies in the second inning and ended up picking up the victory. He walked three, struck out four and allowed one hit and two runs in 2 2/3 innings.
Junior righty Ricky Reeth pitched four scoreless inning with four strikeouts and only two hits. Evansville grad transfer Nate Hardman closed the game out with an 11-pitch ninth inning.
The Irish and Golden Eagles will take the diamond Sunday at 2 p.m. EST.
BOX SCORE: Notre Dame 15, Tennessee Tech 11
