SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The 12th-ranked Notre Dame baseball team (26-10, 11-8) fell behind early and tried to mount a comeback but it was not enough as they fell in the series opener, 7-4, to Boston College (17-26, 4-18) Friday afternoon at Frank Eck Stadium. The Irish faced a 7-1 deficit and battled back with three runs in the eighth but it was not enough as they dropped their first game at home since March 25.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles jumped out in the lead in the top of the fourth. They hit two home runs in the inning and took a 4-0 lead over the Irish.
The Irish got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Nick Juaire scored on an RBI single to center from Jared Miller.
Boston College scored three more runs in the fifth and extended its lead to 7-1.
The Irish loaded the bases with one out in the sixth and looked to claw away at the Eagles lead. Jared Miller grounded to the pitcher who got the first out at home and tried to turn two but the throw got away and two runs touched home. After a lengthy review, the call was overturned as it was deemed Miller was in the base paths and ruled out to end the inning and the runs did not score.
The Irish tried to mount a comeback in the eighth inning. They scored three runs in the inning to pull within 7-4 heading into the ninth inning. David LaManna got the scoring started with an RBI single to center that scored Jack Zyska. Later in the inning, Juaire scored on a balk and LaManna scored on a sacrifice fly from Jack Brannigan.
Radek Birkholz kept the Irish in striking distance with the best outing of his career. He tossed 4.0 innings of relief and struck out seven batters, both were career highs. He retired all 12 batters he faced in his four innings of work.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Eagles will be back in action on Saturday for the second game of the weekend series. Saturday’s game is set for a 1 p.m. ET start and will be aired nationally on the ACC Network. Prior to the game, the 2002 College World Series team will be honored and former Irish skipper Paul Mainieri will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
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