May 6, 2018
By Megan Golden
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — In its final home game of the season, the University of Notre Dame baseball team fell, 8-7, in a heartbreaker to Pittsburgh. The loss is Notre Dame’s second in its last 10 games.
The Irish (23-25, 12-15) climbed their way back from a four-run deficit for the third time this weekend, but they could not rally for the series sweep against Pittsburgh (26-19, 11-13).
How It Happened
For the first time in the series, Notre Dame got on the board first. Niko Kavadas was hit by a pitch, and Alex Kerschner moved him to second with a single up the middle. Eric Gilgenbach connected for his team-high 10th homer of the season to put the Irish ahead, 3-0, in the second inning.
Pittsburgh’s Cole MacLaren doubled down the right field line in the following frame, and the Panthers knocked back-to-back singles to drive in MacLaren and cut the Irish lead to 3-1. Liam Sabino laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, who scored on a two-run single from Ron Washington Jr. to tie the game, 3-3.
David Yanni walked to lead off the fifth, followed by a single from Washington. Caleb Parry knocked an RBI-single into right field, scoring Yanni and giving Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead. In the next at-bat, Nick Banman hit his third home run of the year to right field, driving in three and extending the lead to 7-3.
Notre Dame answered in the bottom half of the inning. Nick Podkul walked, Matt Vierling singled, and Kavadas walked to load the bases with one out. Eric Gilgenbach stepped to the plate with two outs, and the right fielder sent a single into left center to plate two runs. Daniel Jung then delivered an RBI-single up the middle to make it a one-run game at 7-6.
Cole Daily walked to open the sixth inning, and Podkul blooped a single into right center field, allowing Daily to score and tie the game, 7-7.
With one out in the ninth, Cole Kmet entered the game and gave up a solo shot to Banman, his second of the day. Pittsburgh took an 8-7 lead midway through the ninth. That would be enough for the Panthers to secure the win.
Notes
- Notre Dame wrapped its 2018 home slate with a 13-9 record. Notre Dame moves to 89-60 at home over the last six years. The Irish have finished above .500 in each of the last eight seasons, all under the leadership of head coach Mik Aoki.
- Notre Dame owns a 45-22 lead in the all-time series against the Panthers.
- Notre Dame has won eight of its last 10 games.
- Eric Gilgenbach hit his 10th homer of the season, a three-run shot in the second inning. The homer marks the first time an Irish player has hit 10 or more homers in a season since 2012.
- Gilgenbach finished 3-for-4 with five RBI, equaling his career high with three hits.
Up Next
Notre Dame will enjoy a week off during finals before traveling to Evanston, Illinois, for a midweek matchup at Northwestern at 4:30 p.m. ET on May 15. The game will be aired on 103.1 FM (South Bend)/WatchND.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the Irish baseball program, follow @NDBaseball on Twitter and @NotreDameBaseball on Instagram. For tickets to an Irish baseball game, click here.
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Megan Golden, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since August of 2016. In her role, she coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame baseball and women’s soccer programs. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Golden is a 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s College and former Irish women’s basketball manager. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame, she worked in public relations with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.