March 23, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame raced out to an 8-0 lead after two innings and never looked back en route to an 11-5 rout of in-state rival Ball State Tuesday night at Frank Eck Stadium. The Irish improved to 8-11 on the year, while the Cardinals drop to 6-14.
Notre Dame, which was shutout in two of its last three games, exploded out of the gates with two runs in the first and six more in the second inning. In fact, the Irish added one in the third and two more in the fourth inning to take an 11-3 lead.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Ryan Richter and senior right-handed pitcher Billy Boockford did the rest. Richter improved to 1-0 on the season with a solid effort out of the Irish bullpen. The southpaw allowed three earned runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work. Richter fanned four and walked just one. Boockford followed with two scoreless and hitless innings of relief. He walked one and struck out one.
Senior centerfielder Ryne Intlekofer, senior designated hitter Ryan Connolly, junior shortstop Mick Doyle and freshman second baseman Frank Desico all registered multi-hit games. Doyle paced the Irish 12-hit attack with three hits, including a double and triple. He went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Intlekofer went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Connolly went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Desico drove in two and went 2-for-4 on the night.
Junior first baseman Matt Scioscia, making his first career start at the position, went 1-for-4 and drove in three, including a two-run single in the six-run second inning.
Junior righty Ryan Sharpley made his first start since the 2008 season. Still working on a pitch count following shoulder surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2009 season, Sharpley went 2.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on three hits. He walked five, but also struck out two.
Freshman third baseman Adam Norton went hitless in four at bats, but still managed to drive in two with an RBI ground out and sacrifice fly.
Ball State starter Brad Piatt was charged with the loss. He lasted just 1.0 inning and surrendered two earned runs on two hits. He also walked a pair. T.J. Baumet, Ian Nielsen and Kevin Franchetti all had two hits for Ball State.
Notre Dame returns to action against Illinois-Chicago at 5:05 p.m. on Wednesday night at Frank Eck Stadium. Freshman right-handed hurler Patrick Veerkamp will get the start for the Irish.
— ND —