SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The 12th-ranked Notre Dame baseball team’s (28-10, 13-8) offense struck again on Sunday to win the rubber match and clinch the series after a 16-10 victory over Boston College (17-28, 4-20) at Frank Eck Stadium. After trailing for the first time in the game, the Irish scored a season-high 11 runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good and secure the series.
The Irish trailed 8-5 heading into the sixth but hit three home runs in the inning and sent 14 batters to the plate to regain the lead. The Irish took the lead for good when Jared Miller hit a grand slam to right when the game was level at 8-8. Ryan Cole and Jack Zyska also hit home runs in the inning to add to the lead.
The Irish clinched their fifth ACC series of the season with the win and scored in double figures for the second-straight game. The 11 runs are the most in a single inning since April 24, 2021, against Boston College when the Irish scored 12 runs in the eighth inning of the series-clinching win.
A trio of players led the way with a team-high four RBI on the day. Zyska and Miller tied career highs with the four runs batted in and Cole was the other player to have four on the day. Cole tied a career-high with three runs scored while Zack Prajzner and Jack Brannigan both had a team-best three hits. Seven different Irish hitters tallied multi-hit games in the series finale.
How It Happened
The Irish jumped out in front with two runs in the bottom of the second. Cole dropped a single into center that scored Nick Juaire and Miller on the play. After two full innings, the Irish led 2-0.
The Eagles got a run back with a solo home run in the fourth but the Irish immediately responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Carter Putz doubled to center field to score Cole and Prajzner on the play.
Boston College hit another home run in the fifth but the Irish again scored in the bottom of the inning. Brannigan doubled and forced an errant throw that allowed Juaire to score from third. After five innings in the books, the Irish were up 5-2.
In the top of the sixth, the Eagles took their first lead of the game. They plated six runs in the top half of the sixth and held an 8-5 lead.
The lead was short-lived as the Irish put together their best offensive inning of the season. The first four batters of the inning all reached base and three of them scored to tie the game at 8-8. Cole scored on a fielder’s choice by Putz and Zyska singled to left to score two runs and tied the game.
After the first out of the inning, Brannigan singled and David LaManna was intentionally walked to load the bases for Miller. He took a 1-0 pitch clear over the wall in right for a grand slam, the second-straight game the Irish have hit a grand slam this weekend.
The Irish weren’t done in the inning as Cole tallied his second career inside-the-park home run two batters later. He hit a rocket to center that was out of reach from the center fielder and ricocheted off the wall. By the time the Eagles could get the ball back in, Cole crossed home plate for his sixth home run of the season. The final two runs in the inning were scored on a two-run homer from Zyska. His eighth home run of the season capped the 11-run inning and put the Irish up 16-8.
After the sixth, Brannigan moved from third to the mound and finished off the final three innings for the Irish. He set a career high with six strikeouts, tied a career high with 3.0 innings pitched and picked up his second save of the season.
Up Next
The Irish will be off next weekend for finals as they will not be making their scheduled trip to William and Mary. The next time the Irish take the field will be Tuesday, May 10 as they open their final homestand of the regular season. The Irish will face off with Michigan State for the third time this season and the matchup is set for a 6 p.m. ET first pitch and will be aired nationally on the ACC Network. Admission is free for all fans at home games this season.
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