LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Notre Dame (27-24, 9-20 ACC) fell short in the doubleheader at Louisville Thursday, losing 5-3 in Game One and 5-1 in Game Two.
The Irish turned two double plays in Game One, adding to their ACC-leading season total (now 46). Hincks also added to his personal total, as he entered the weekend with nine more fielding double plays than any other ACC player. He now has 44.
RHP Tobey McDonough (3-3) shouldered the loss in Game One, and RHP Jack Radel (4-3) took the loss in Game Two.
OF David Glancy led the Irish at the plate with two home runs on the day, one in each game.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
The Irish got off to a quick start, as Glancy homered with one out in the first inning to put the Irish up 1-0. After a walk in the bottom of the inning, C Tony Lindwedel and INF Jack Penney caught the runner stealing. Starting RHP Matt Bedford dealt his first strikeout of the day, and a groundout ended the inning.
Gumpf followed Glancy’s lead in the second, delivering a one-out solo homer to give the Irish a two-run lead. Louisville responded in their half inning with a two-run homer to even the score at two apiece. Bedford added another strikeout to limit the damage.
Glancy doubled in the third, but a double play caught him and Penney out, ending the inning. Bedford added a third strikeout en route to retiring the side in the bottom of the third.
Notre Dame went three up, three down in the fourth. After two outs in the bottom of the inning, Louisville homered again to go up 3-2. Neither side scored in the fifth, as Lindwedel chased a dirt ball to catch a runner trying to advance, ending the inning.
Penney drew a HBP and INF Connor Hincks added a single in the sixth, but both were unable to get home. After a Louisville single in the bottom of the inning, Notre Dame turned its 45th double play of the season, as INF Estevan Moreno dished to Penney and second, who turned to Hincks at first. After a walk, McDonough took the mound, allowing a walk before a quick grab by Penney ended the inning.
The Irish sat down in order in the seventh, and after a single, McDonough struck out two and kept Louisville scoreless in the seventh.
OF TJ Williams led off the eighth with a bunt single, and stole second and third on two-consecutive pitches. Penney singled to bring Williams home and tie the game up at three runs apiece. In the bottom of the inning, Louisville led off with a single, but a McDonough strikeout, and another Penney-Moreno-Hincks double play ended the inning.
Notre Dame threatened in the ninth, hitting two-straight singles via Hincks and INF Simon Baumgardt. Gumpf laid down a bunt, as Baumgard took second and Hincks was tagged out at third. An OF Tito Flores single loaded the bases, but a double play ended the Irish hopes in the ninth. After a Louisville single in the bottom of the inning, the Cardinals homered to walk off with the 5-3 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
Both sides were held scoreless in the first, as Radel and Penney combined to pick off a runner at second. The teams went without scoring in the second, as well, as Radel and the Irish sat Louisville down in order, with Radel posting a strikeout.
Williams added Notre Dame’s first hit of the game in the third inning, but the Irish were held off the board. After a flyout to lead off the bottom of the third, Louisville stacked a double, a walk and a sacrifice bunt to place two in scoring position. A double scored two for Louisville, and after the runner got to third on a wild pitch, an RBI single brought him home. The Irish were able to limit the Cardinals to three runs, closing the inning on a groundout.
Hincks drew a walk in the fourth, but was left on base. Radel and the Irish defense sat the Cardinals down in order in the bottom of the inning. In the fifth, C Joey Spence posted a two-out double, but was left on base. In the bottom of the inning after two outs, a HBP was followed by a home run, increasing Louisville’s lead to 5-0. RHP Ricky Reeth entered to pitch and closed the inning.
Glancy led off the sixth with a solo home run to get the Irish on the board. In the bottom of the inning, Reeth retired the Cardinals in order, starting with a strikeout.
Notre Dame went three up, three down in the seventh. In the bottom half of the inning, after a double, Reeth, Moreno and Baumgardt picked off the runner, and Louisville was held off the board.
Both sides went scoreless in the eighth, and the Irish were retired in order in the ninth to solidify Louisville’s 5-1 win.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame and Louisville return for the final game of the series, and final game of the regular season, Friday at 4 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.