RALEIGH, N.C. — The third-ranked Notre Dame baseball team had a big first inning that propelled it to the 11-4 win over No. 17 NC State Sunday afternoon at Dail Park. The Irish (11-1, 2-0) took both games from the Wolfpack (9-6, 0-2) this weekend and extended their winning streak to nine games.
The Irish took advantage of Wolfpack miscues to score in double figures for the fifth time this season. They scored three runs in the first inning and then seven runs in the final two innings. Carter Putz led the way with three hits and two RBI while Jared Miller scored a team-high three runs.
On the mound, the duo of John Michael Bertrand and Austin Temple limited the damage the Wolfpack could do at the plate. Bertrand pitched 5.0 innings to earn his fourth win of the season and Temple pitched the final 4.0 innings to earn his first save of the year.
How It Happened
The Irish got off to a quick start as they scored three runs in the first inning. Three-straight hits got the first run home for the Irish as Putz singled to right and scored Miller. Ryan Cole came home next after an error from the third baseman. The final run came as Putz scored on the ground out from Brooks Coetzee III.
Notre Dame got another run in the third after Miller led the inning off with a walk. He stole second base and then advanced to third on a passed ball. Putz laced a fly ball out to right but it was deep enough to score Miller to give the Irish a 4-0 advantage.
Bertrand was cruising through the early innings for the Irish. He did not allow a hit through the first four innings and tallied four strikeouts. In the fifth, the Wolfpack strung a few hits together and got three runs home to make it a one-run game. With the go-ahead run at the plate, Bertrand got a strikeout to end the inning and keep it a 4-3 Irish lead.
Austin Temple came on in relief in the sixth and turned two after the strike out at the plate and David LaManna caught the runner stealing. He finished the sixth with his second strikeout of the afternoon to keep the Irish in front.
The Irish added two insurance runs in the eighth after an error by the Wolfpack left fielder. He dropped a fly ball with two outs that allowed Putz and Brannigan to score for the Irish.
Notre Dame added more runs in the ninth off Wolfpack miscues. LaManna and Prajzner both scored on a wild pitch and then TJ Williams drove in Spencer Myers with a triple to the wall in right. Williams later scored in the inning on a wild pitch. Miller scored the final run of the inning on the ground out by Brannigan.
Temple came back out in the ninth for his fourth inning of relief and he secured the win for the Irish and his first save of the season.
Up Next
The Irish return to campus to get ready for the home opener at Frank Eck Stadium. The Irish open the home slate on Tuesday for a midweek matchup with Valparaiso. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra. Admission is free for all fans at each home game during the regular season.
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