April 2, 2018
By Megan Golden
Earlier this season, the bases were loaded with two down in the top of the 10th inning in Coral Gables, Florida. Irish head coach Mik Aoki turned to Alex Kerschner to pinch hit. Kerschner, a senior, stepped to the plate with four hits and one RBI in his Irish career.
Sure enough, the New Berlin, Wisconsin, native ripped a two-run double to left field, delivering the game-winning knock in Notre Dame’s 9-5 win over Miami on March 10.
Following the Irish victory, Kerschner received a request for an interview.
“Who? Me?” he said, with a confused expression. “Oh.”
The game-winning hit capped an incredible week for Kerschner, who was accepted into medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee earlier in the week.
—
Fast forward to Notre Dame’s game versus Kent State on March 28. The Irish and the Golden Flashes were playing in a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning. Notre Dame had a runner on second with two outs in the inning and Kerschner up to bat. He worked the count full.
On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Kerschner lined a perfectly-placed single into left field that put the Irish ahead 2-1 and helped Notre Dame split the two-game series.
—
Nicknamed “Doc” by his teammates, Kerschner decided to enroll at Notre Dame because he was attracted to the university’s academics. With scholarship offers on the table from several Division III programs across the country, Kerschner decided to go all-in on academics and earn a degree at Notre Dame.
Itching to join the varsity roster midway through his freshman season, Kerschner sent an email to the Irish coaching staff. Unfortunately, there was not a spot available on the roster at the time.
“It was tough because all you really want is an opportunity to show what you could do. It was frustrating to not get an opportunity,” Kerschner said. “You understand that it’s Notre Dame, though, and they recruit the best of the best. It’s high level baseball. You take it for what it is and move on. I still had to keep playing and working from there.”
Kerschner moved on, joining the club baseball team and playing in a summer league back home that year.
“My sophomore year, I emailed the coaches again,” he said. “They ended up giving me a tryout. I guess I showed enough potential at the tryout, so I hung around the fall of that year. I was gray-shirted that year, which meant I couldn’t suit up for any games but I could still practice with the team.”
Kerschner, who had experience pitching and playing first base and outfield, finally was awarded a spot on the varsity roster at the start of his junior year. In nine games (two starts) in 2017, Kerschner finished 0-for-9 with one run scored.
A year later, Notre Dame’s right-handed DH stands second on the team in batting average (.313) and has recorded 10 runs and six RBI through 16 starts (24 games). Kerschner continues to work hard and excel in the classroom, most recently evident in his overnight trip from San Antonio, Texas, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for a medical school interview between games at the Irish Alamo Classic.
“It’s kind of natural to want to prove your spot on the team,” Kerschner said. “Over time, that’s kind of gone away a little bit. I’ve just tried to be the best player I can be and focus on that.
“It’s been very rewarding to see the hard work pay off. Baseball is obviously a game of ups and downs, so I’m just going to keep working hard and enjoying the moments as they come.”
Kerschner’s largest fan base — his teammates — have witnessed his success from 30 feet away in the Irish dugout.
“I’m so psyched to see the success that Kerschner is having right now, and I know the entire team is too,” outfielder Eric Gilgenbach said. “He deserves every bit of it. He has done everything right ever since he joined the team his sophomore year, and he’s been very patient for his time to shine.
“He works incredibly hard in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the field. His work ethic influences the guys around him as well, including myself. He is one of the most humble guys I have ever met and always puts the team first. By and large, he is a true representation of an ideal teammate and what Notre Dame baseball is all about.”
Kerschner said Aoki has taught him a thing or two about being an ideal teammate.
“Don’t try to live up to the expectations of other people,” Kerschner said. “Just try to be the best player that you can be. Don’t try to do anything outside of your game. Be the best version of yourself that you can be. That’s been the biggest takeaway for me.
“I think you can always get better; there’s always things you can improve on. I think (my best) is yet to come.”
For a behind-the-scenes look at the Irish baseball program, follow @NDBaseball on Twitter and @NotreDameBaseball on Instagram. For tickets to an Irish baseball game, click here.
–ND–
Megan Golden, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since August of 2016. In her role, she coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame baseball and women’s soccer programs. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Golden is a 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s College and former Irish women’s basketball manager. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame, she worked in public relations with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.