SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-10) fell in a tough 10-8 loss to North Carolina (19-7) at Frank Eck Stadium on Friday, March 31. The Irish are now 4-6 in conference play as they head into the next two games of the series against UNC.
How it Happened
Blake Hely started on the mound for Notre Dame, recording six strikeouts across 5.0 innings pitched. The Tar Heels posted an early 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second, but the Irish’s strong offensive frame would allow them to close the gap. While Carter Putz opened up the bottom of the inning with a walk, the Irish recorded their first hit of the day as Vinny Martinez singled to center field. With runners on first and second, Estevan Moreno sent it deep to center field for his third home run of the year as the Irish brought it within one at 4-3 heading into the third.
Notre Dame would hold the Tar Heels scoreless in the third frame, going three up, three down as Hely recorded his third and fourth strikeouts of the day.
In the bottom of the third, Martinez was back up to the plate with Brooks Coetzee on first and Putz on third. He launched it out to deep right for a three-run home run, his second homer of the year, as the Irish took a 6-4 lead.
The Irish continued the scoring theme and recorded their seventh run of the game on another home run as Prajzner homered to center field. The Irish led 7-4 after four. After scoreless frames in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, Notre Dame would record their fourth home run of the day as TJ Williams homered over the left field fence. His second homer of the season extended the Irish lead to 8-4 heading into the top of the ninth.
UNC would record six runs on six hits, including a home run and grand slam in the final frame as the Irish fell 10-8 in game one against the Tar Heels.
Up Next
The Irish finish out the series against the Tar Heels this weekend at Frank Eck and will host Northwestern at home on Tuesday, April 4. Conference play resumes as the Irish head to Pitt for a three-game series starting April 6 in Pittsburgh.