SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame (26-21) took the series-opening win over Toledo (24-26) Friday with a score of 6-5. RHP Ricky Reeth (2-5) earned the win, while RHP Nate Hardman notched his sixth save of the season.
INF Simon Baumgardt led the Irish with three RBI on the day, while INF Connor Hincks went two-for-two with an RBI and a run.
Reeth went three full innings in relief with five strikeouts, no runs, and just two hits allowed. Hardman entered to pitch the full ninth inning, posting two strikeouts and allowing no runners on base.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Toledo led off the game with a single, and Helwig dealt a strikeout in response. A Toledo homer put two on the board for the Rockets. In the bottom of the inning, OF David Glancy led off with a walk, and INF Jack Penney took a HBP. After a strikeout, Hincks doubled to score Glancy, the Irish pulling within one run. Two strikeouts ended the inning with a 2-1 Toledo lead.
Both teams went scoreless in the second, with Toledo adding a hit. After two outs in the top of the third, Toledo took a HBP, the runner subsequently stealing second. A single brought the runner home, increasing the Rockets’ lead to 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, Glancy hit a ball hard for a single to lead off, and Penney singled to push Glancy to third. After a strikeout, Hincks took an HBP to load the bases. Baumgardt sent a line drive to center field to score both Glancy and Penney, tying the score at three runs apiece.
Reeth took the mound to start the fourth inning for the Irish, and the Rockets were held from scoring, with Spence and Penney catching a runner stealing and Reeth ending the inning on a strikeout. The Irish went down in order in the bottom of the inning.
Reeth dealt two strikeouts in the fifth as Toledo went three up, three down. In the bottom of the inning, Penney drew a leadoff walk, reaching second on a groundout. Hincks singled, pushing Penney to third, and a Baumgardt sac fly scored Penney. OF Tito Flores followed it up with a single, placing Hincks on third, and Flores then stole second. OF Brady Gumpf sent a high-flying ball that dropped in the outfield for a single, scoring Hincks and Flores. The inning ended with the Irish up 6-3.
Both sides went scoreless in the sixth, as Toledo added another hit, but Reeth added two strikeouts to bring his total to five on the day.
RHP Will Jacobsen entered to pitch to begin the seventh, and struck out two en route to retiring the Rockets in order. The Irish drew a walk and HBP in the bottom of the inning, but both runners were stranded on base.
Toledo struck back in the eighth, leading off with two-consecutive solo home runs. Jacobsen retired the next three batters, including the final two on strikeouts, to limit the damage.
Hardman took the mound for the ninth inning, posting two strikeouts and forcing a flyout to secure the 6-5 win and Hardman’s sixth save of the season.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame and Toledo return for the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.