April 6, 2014
Box Score – Game 1
Box Score – Game 2
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Another Sunday doubleheader ended in disappointment for the University of Notre Dame baseball team as the Irish lost both games, with the second coming by just a single run, at No. 1 Florida State in front of 6,041 fans at Dick Howser Stadium. The Irish lost game one, 11-2, before getting edged by the Seminoles, 4-3, in game two.
Highlighting Notre Dame’s day at the plate were three-hit games from junior Conor Biggio and freshman Kyle Fiala in the first game, while junior Ryan Bull went 3-for-5 with two RBI in the two games.
The Irish (10-20, 1-14 ACC) will quickly get back into action this week with a pair of road mid-week contests as they travel to Chicago, Ill., for a 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET) Tuesday game against the Chicago State Cougars before turning around and heading to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a 7 p.m. ET Wednesday contest against the Michigan Wolverines. Earlier in the year, the Irish fell to the Wolverines, 4-2, in 10 innings at the USA Baseball-Irish Classic.
Game 1: No. 1 Florida State 11, Notre Dame 2
Florida State plated nine runs in the first three innings, including six in the second frame alone, as it powered past Notre Dame, 11-2, in game one of the Sunday doubleheader.
Notre Dame actually out-hit FSU, 14-13, and recorded lead-off hits in six of the nine innings, but left 13 runners on base. The Irish were just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position for the game.
The Seminoles’ big inning came in the second as they ran off starting pitcher Michael Hearne (1-4, 1.2 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) by putting up six runs including four with two outs to extend their lead to 8-1. A wild pitch and a throwing error plated the first run and a groundout, single, double and homer followed to score the other five. The homer, a two-run shot, came off the bat of first baseman John Nogowski and was his second of the game. He also hit a two-run bomb in the first inning to put FSU up 2-0 early. All four of Nogowski’s homers this year have been hit in the last five games.
FSU has hit five homers in the first two games of the series, which resulted in nine ‘Nole runs.
Nogowski finished the game with three hits, four RBI and two runs scored. Shortstop Casey Smit (3 H, 1 RBI, 1 R) and third baseman Jose Brizuela (2 H, 3 R) also recorded multi-hit games for the ‘Noles.
Eleven different players recorded hits for the Irish, led by three each from Co. Biggio and Fiala. Biggio and Fiala both have three three-hit games in their career.
Notre Dame scored its two runs in the second and the seventh innings. An infield single by Fiala and a bloop single by left fielder Zak Kutsulis gave the Irish runners at the corners with one out in the second. The Irish took advantage of the opportunity as catcher Ryan Lidge had an RBI groundout to Smit that easily brought home Fiala and trimmed the ‘Nole lead to 2-1. In the seventh, Fiala hit a sac fly to center field to bring home Hudgins and make the score 9-2. Hudgins had led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball.
After Hearne was removed in the second inning, freshman Ryan Smoyer entered and had his best outing of the season as he went 4.1 innings and gave up a run on three hits.
FSU pitcher Mike Compton (3-0) earned the win as he allowed one run on 10 hits.
Game 2: No. 1 Florida State 4, Notre Dame 3
FSU’s three-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as a continuous Irish rally fell just short as the visitors had runners on the corners with one out in the ninth inning before a double play clinched the series sweep for the Seminoles.
A back-and-forth game, FSU cracked the scoreboard first in game two as John Sansone’s RBI single brought home Ben DeLuzio in the second inning.
The Irish answered two innings later as Bull hit a scorcher down the left field line that allowed Hudgins to cross the dish.
In what proved to be the game winner, Florida State struck with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to push the score to 4-1. All three runs came with two outs as Connaughton loaded the bases with back-to-back walks and then allowed back-to-back singles to Smit (two-run) and Nogowski to plate three.
Notre Dame began to chip away at the lead in the sixth as another Bull RBI double brought home Lezynski.
In the seventh, pinch hitter Kevin DeFilippis had an RBI groundout that brought home Forrest Johnson and trimmed the lead to 4-3. Johnson had reached base after a leadoff single before advancing to third on a Youngdahl double off the right field fence.
Notre Dame had a shot to tie or win the game in the ninth as Zak Kutsulis and Robert Youngdahl reached base, but a game-ending double play ended the threat.
Bull ended the game with a pair of sharply-hit doubles and two RBI, while Youngdahl notched a pair of hits.
For FSU, DeLuzio had three hits and two runs scored.
Irish junior RHP Pat Connaughton (0-2) suffered the loss after going 5.2 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits, seven walks and one hit batter. He also struck out five in 116 pitches.
FSU pitcher Bryant Holtmann improved to 5-0 as he allowed two runs on four hits. Gage Smith picked up his first save of the season.
With two more one-run losses this weekend, the Irish fall to 3-10 on the year in one-run decisions and to 3-13 in contests decided by two runs or less.
–Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director
–ND–
Another Sunday doubleheader ended in disappointment for the University of Notre Dame baseball team as the Irish lost both games, with the second coming by just a single run, at No. 1 Florida State in front of 6,041 fans at Dick Howser Stadium. The Irish lost game one, 11-2, before getting edged by the Seminoles, 4-3, in game two.
The Irish (10-20, 1-14 ACC) will quickly get back into action this week with a pair of road mid-week contests as they travel to Chicago, Ill., for a 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET) Tuesday game against the Chicago State Cougars before turning around and heading to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a 7 p.m. ET Wednesday contest against the Michigan Wolverines. Earlier in the year, the Irish fell to the Wolverines, 4-2, in 10 innings at the USA Baseball-Irish Classic.
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