NOTRE DAME, Ind. — It had been 677 days since the Irish last took the field at Frank Eck Stadium for a game and they had a flair for the dramatics in Friday’s home opener. Senior Ryan Cole launched his first career home run in the 13th inning to give the 15th-ranked Irish a 6-4 series-opening win in the 13th inning over the Duke Blue Devils (7-7, 3-4 ACC).
“Just a great win,” said head coach Link Jarrett. “I thought our guys competed very well. (Joe) Sheridan did his thing again and chewed up over six innings. Tanner (Kohlhepp) continues to develop for us. Then the offensive outburst in the 13th inning sealed it for us. Kavadas led us off with the double, LaManna had his signature at-bat to move the runner over and Cole had his moment to win it.”
The hit that sealed it for the Irish!!
Celebration game was on point for @ryan_cole13's first career home run!!!#GoIrish x #Rally pic.twitter.com/wwV6qhjSC5
— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) March 20, 2021
With the Irish (8-2, 8-2 ACC) trailing 4-2 in the sixth inning, the long ball got the game tied up and it was Notre Dame’s premier slugger at the plate. Niko Kavadas got a ball on the inner half of the plate and he roped over the wall in right for a two-run homer to tie the game.
Kavadas started the 13th off with a double that set the table for Cole with a runner on third and just one out. Cole did not waste any time, sending the first-pitch breaking ball over the wall in left as the Irish piled out of the dugout to mob him at the plate.
One the mound, Joe Sheridan and Tanner Kohlhepp were dominant out of the pen for the Irish with the pair pitching the final 9.1 innings of the game. The duo did not walk a batter during their appearances and allowed just one extra base hit. The Irish won their sixth game in a row and Coach Jarrett’s secured his first home win after his first game at Frank Eck Stadium.
“It was almost surreal,” said Jarrett. “To stand there and watch the ball going into the bushes and our guys flood out of the dugout with the coolers and all the stuff. You could tell how big that moment was for them and it was obviously a moment I will never forget.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame got out in front in the third inning after taking advantage of a couple of Duke errors. Jack Brannigan scored the first run after coming home on a throwing error by the pitcher. Spencer Myers scored the second run of the inning on Jared Miller’s ground to second.
In the top of the fourth, the Irish had issues with walks and the Blue Devils took advantage. Duke put up four runs in the inning to take a 4-2 lead.
In the sixth, the Irish just had one hit coming into the inning but Miller worked a leadoff walk to bring up Kavadas. Niko was all over the inside pitch and turned on it right down the right field line. The liner cleared the fence to tie the game at 4-4 and for Kavadas, it was his sixth home run in just 10 games.
Sheridan came on in the fourth inning and was the calming presence the Irish needed on the mound. One week after tossing five innings of shutout relief, Sheridan one-upped it with 6.1 innings of scoreless ball against Duke.
Kohlhepp was brought on in the 11th and continued to keep the Blue Devils at bay at the plate. He allowed two hits in three innings of work and tied a career high with four strikeouts.
In the bottom of the 13th, Kavadas lined a double down the right field line, slid into second and immediately fired up the dugout to lead the inning off. After TJ Williams came in to pinch run, he got to third with just one out for Cole. Cole sent the first pitch over the wall in left for his first career home run and sealed the win for the Irish.
STATS OF THE GAME
- It was the first walk-off home run for the Irish since 2018 when David LaManna hit a two-run homer in the win over Purdue.
- The Irish have had walk-offs in three of their last four home games.
- This was the longest game for the Irish since they went 13 innings against Florida State back in 2017.
UP NEXT
The two teams will be back on the diamond Saturday afternoon for the second game of the series. Saturday’s game is set for a 2 p.m. ET start and will be aired on the ACC Network Extra. LHP John Michael Bertrand will be on the hill in hopes of clinching the series for the Irish.
—ND—