Box Score (PDF) | Knoxville Super Regional Central
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Notre Dame baseball team (39-15) ran into a buzzsaw on Saturday as they fell to No. 1 Tennessee (57-8), 12-4, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The result forces a decisive game three for Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET with the winner going to Omaha for the College World Series.
Tennessee jumped on the Irish via the long ball with four on the afternoon. The Vols used an eight-run fifth inning to put the game out of reach.
Jack Zyska was the offensive catalyst for the Irish on the afternoon. He got a hit in each of his four at-bats and was a triple shy of the cycle. He had two singles, a double and two-run home run with 2 RBI and one run scored.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Tennessee struck first in the top of the first as they were the designated road team. An RBI double put the Vols up 1-0 after the first inning.
After the first inning, John Michael Bertrand settled in and kept the Volunteers off the scoreboard over the next three innings. He worked around a few hits and a walk to keep the Irish within striking distance.
The Vols added to their lead in the top of the fifth with a lead-off solo home run. They added seven more runs in the frame on two three-run shots and a solo home run. After the fifth, Tennessee led 9-0.
The Irish got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. Danny Neri scored on a ground out by Spencer Myers to give the Irish their first run of the game.
The Irish added another run in the bottom of the sixth. Nick DeMarco scored on a sacrifice fly from Jack Penney.
The Volunteers added three insurance runs in the seventh to further pad their lead.
Zyska hit his team-leading 13th home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth. He has homered in three of his last four games and the home run tied the program record for most team home runs in a single season. They are tied with the 1998 squad that set the record with 73 home runs in the season.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Volunteers will battle it out one more time with a trip to Omaha on the line. Tennessee and Notre Dame will face off in a decisive game three on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET and it will be aired nationally on ESPN. The Irish will have right-hander Liam Simon on the mound in hopes of extending their season.
—ND—