May 1, 2016

Box Score – Game 1 (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) – Game 1

Box Score – Game 2 (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) – Game 2

By Russell Dorn

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame baseball team dropped a Sunday doubleheader to Ohio University, 8-5 and 9-1, to wrap up a three-game non-conference series at Frank Eck Stadium.

In both games the Bobcats got off to a quick start but the Irish held close through four innings. However, Ohio scored four runs in the sixth inning in game one and six runs between the fifth and eighth frames in game two to pull away in both contests.

The Irish (25-18) have a week off for final exams before welcoming in Atlantic Coast Conference foe Pittsburgh (21-17) for a key league series next weekend. Game times are set for 7:05 p.m. ET Friday, 4:05 p.m. ET Saturday and 1:05 p.m. ET Sunday. A fan appreciation BBQ is scheduled for postgame Saturday. For more information on the fan appreciation BBQ, check out the Irish Twitter page.

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GAME 1: Ohio 8, Notre Dame 5

A big four-run sixth inning broke open a 4-2 game and helped propel the Bobcats to an 8-5 win in game one of a Sunday doubleheader against the Irish.

Ohio jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but RBI hits by Jake Shepski and Matt Vierling quickly trimmed the lead to 3-2 heading to the second frame.

The Bobcats upped their lead to 4-2 on a solo homer in the third before the four-run sixth frame – kept alive by an Irish fielding error – broke open the contest.

Notre Dame attempted a comeback with a three-run seventh inning – highlighted by a two-RBI triple from Ricky Sanchez – but the Irish couldn’t come all the way back due in part to some impressive relief pitching from Jake Roehn, who picked up his team-high fifth save of the season.

Irish starter Sean Guenther (3-4) took the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings of work and 105 pitches. Sophomore Evy Ruibal (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) and junior Ryan Smoyer (2.0 IP, 1 H) both turned in solid relief appearances.

Biggio (2-5, 2 R), Shepski (2 H, RBI, 2 R) and Podkul (2-3, 2 BB) all turned in two-hit days for Notre Dame. Sanchez had a triple, two RBI, two walks and a run scored.

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GAME 2: Ohio 9, Notre Dame 1

The Bobcats completed the Sunday sweep by racking up nine runs on 12 hits in game two to beat the Irish 9-1.

Ohio scored two runs in the second, fifth and eighth innings and plated three more in the sixth frame.

Normally Notre Dame’s good luck charm, senior Michael Hearne (6-1) started on four-days rest and only made it through two innings, as Ohio tallied two runs on four hits against the lefty. The Irish entered the game 9-0 when Hearne took the mound in 2016.

In the process, Hearne’s 16-inning scoreless streak was snapped, a streak that extended through parts of three games.

Poor defense hurt the Irish all day, as they tallied three errors in the series finale after posting one error in Sunday’s early game.

Offensively, the Irish left eight runners on base. They only struck out once.

Brandon Bielak (3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO), Brad Bass (1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 SO), Connor Hock (1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) and Jack Connolly (1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO) all pitched in relief for Notre Dame.

Vierling had a perfect day at the plate (3-for-3, BB) and Cavan Biggio posted two hits.

The Irish scored their lone run of the game on a fielding error by the Bobcats.

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For more information on the Notre Dame baseball team, follow the Irish on Facebook (/NDBaseball), Twitter (@NDBaseball) and Instagram (notredamebaseball).

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Russell Dorn, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2011 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame volleyball, rowing and baseball programs. A native of Greenwood, South Carolina, Dorn graduated from Furman University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in history before earning his master’s degree in sports communications from Georgia State University in 2011.

–ND–