LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The first-ranked Notre Dame baseball team dropped the second game of the series, 8-1, to Louisville Saturday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium. After tying the game in the top of the eight on a Jack Brannigan home run, the Cardinals scored seven in the bottom half of the inning to seal the win.
How It Happened
Unlike the first game of the series, it was a pitcher’s duel between the two starters to start the game. Neither team could get a run across as both pitchers limited offensive opportunities.
The Cardinals got a runner to third base in the third and fourth inning but John Michael Bertrand was able to get out of both jams and kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard.
Both teams were unable to score until the seventh inning when the Cardinals broke through. They scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch and took a 1-0 lead after seven innings.
The lead did not last long for Louisville as the Irish tied the game in the top of the eighth. Brannigan led off the inning with a 434-foot home run to center field. It was his second home run of the season and tied the game at 1-1.
Louisville took the lead back in the bottom half of the inning. The Cardinals had a big inning, putting up seven runs, and took an 8-1 lead into the ninth.
Up Next
The Irish and Cardinals will meet for the final game of the series Sunday afternoon. The final game of the series is set for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch and will be aired on ACC Network Extra.
—ND—