SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The fourth-ranked Notre Dame baseball team (21-5) closed out the homestand in style with a 14-5 win over rival Michigan (17-15) Tuesday afternoon at Frank Eck Stadium. The Irish broke out for five runs in the second and never looked back for their ninth-straight win.
The bats stayed hot against the Wolverines, tallying double-digit runs for the ninth time this season. The big inning was in play as the Irish scored four runs or more in three separate innings. Spencer Myers led the way with his first career grand slam and career-high four RBI. Brooks Coetzee III and Zack Prajzner tallied 3 RBI of their own in the win.
On the mound, five different Irish pitchers saw action. Sophomore Jackson Dennies picked up his first career win after 1.2 innings of relief work.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michigan looked poised to score first as it loaded the bases in the first and second inning. The Irish were able to get out of both innings without allowing a run, giving the offense a chance to set the tone in the bottom of the second.
The Irish took advantage as they scored five runs in the bottom half of the second inning, all with two outs. Four-straight walks brought home the first run for the Irish as Jack Zyska scored on Prajzner’s walk. After the Wolverines went to the bullpen, Myers took a ball the other way and it cleared the wall in left for the grand slam. It was Myers’ first career grand slam and it gave the Irish a 5-0 lead.
Michigan got a few runs back in the fourth. They plated two runs in the inning and trimmed the Irish lead to 5-2.
The Irish got those runs back and then some when they put a four-spot on the scoreboard in the fourth. Carter Putz got it started with an RBI single that scored Prajzner. Jack Brannigan came home after Zyska was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Later in the inning, Coetzee III singled to right and Ryan Cole and Putz. After five full innings, Notre Dame had a 9-2 lead.
Notre Dame got another run in the sixth as Zyska doubled down the line in left. Cole scored from second and the Irish were up 10-2.
Michigan scored three in the eighth but the Irish answered with four of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Coetzee III got a base knock to drive in his third run of the game. Prajzner tallied his second and third RBI after his single to left. The final run of the inning came courtesy of Brannigan after an RBI single to center scored Prajzner.
UP NEXT
The Irish head out on the road tomorrow to prepare for another ACC series as they travel to Duke. The Irish and Blue Devils will start the series on Thursday for Easter weekend at Jack Coombs Field on campus. The series opener is set for a 6 p.m. ET first pitch and will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
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