March 15, 2009
Box Score – Game 1 | Box Score – Game 1 
Box Score – Game 2 | Box Score – Game 2
SAN ANTONIO – Notre Dame junior Eric Maust (Alpharetta, Ga.) tossed a complete game victory over to lead the Irish over Texas-Pan American, 7-2, to secure a doubleheader sweep in final day action from the 2009 Irish Baseball Classic. Notre Dame took the opening game of the day over the Broncos, 10-7. The Irish improve to 10-5 on the season, while UTPA drops to 3-15.
Maust baffled the Broncos over the first six innings before tiring in the seventh. He kept UTPA off the scoreboard over the first 6.0 innings and limited them to just four hits, all singles. Maust cruised through the first four innings. He used just 30 pitches to retire the 12 Broncos.
Maust improved to 2-0 on the season. He did allow a pair of meaningless runs in the top of the seventh, but registered his second straight quality start. Maust scattered six hits and struck out two, with three walks.
Sophomore Golden Tate (Hendersonville, Tenn.) and junior David Mills (Battle Creek, Mich.) each had a couple hits. Tate drove in one, while Mills drove in a pair. Junior Ryne Intlekofer (Moorpark, Calif.) went 1-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI.
At 10-5, Notre Dame is off to its best start entering the season’s home opener since 2004. The Irish opened that season with a sparkling 13-2 mark. The ’04 squad would go on to capture the BIG EAST regular season and tournament championship en route to a school record 51 victories.
Sophomore Brian Dupra (Rochester, N.Y.) picked up the victory in the opener. The right-handed hurler struggled with command over the first two innings as the Broncos plated four runs, including three in the top of the second, on six hits and three walks. He settled down and blanked UTPA over his final 5.0 innings of work on just a pair of hits.
Dupra improved to 2-2 on the season. He was charged with four earned runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings. Dupra struck out four and walked four.
Junior Casey Martin (Chesterton, Ind.) recorded a career-high four hits. The first baseman went 4-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. Mills and junior A.J. Pollock (Hebron, Conn.) each added a pair of hits. Mills drove in three and added a run scored, while Pollock had a run scored and RBI.
Notre Dame registered its second straight 12-hit attack. Seven different Irish players recorded a hit and eight had a least one RBI.
Notre Dame will return to South Bend for its home opener on Tuesday, March 17 against Mid-American Conference rival Ball State. First-pitch is slated for 5:05 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day.
— ND —