COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Brandon Logan used a game-ending grand slam to help lift the Notre Dame baseball team to a 14-3 (8 innings) win over UIC on Saturday afternoon at Tennessee Tech in the Holiday Inn Classic.
In the top of the second, Jayce Lee cut down a runner trying to score from second base on a hit to right field as the Irish kept UIC off the scoreboard early.
The Flames used a two-run home run in the top of the third for a 2-0 advantage. The Irish responded right away in the bottom half of the inning. Drew Berkland hit a lead-off double, and Noah Coy drove in Berkland with a single up the middle. Coy moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, and Bino Watters pulled a single to right field to score Coy.
Caden Crowell retired the side in order in the top of the inning, and Notre Dame took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Jamie Zee hit a two-out single up the middle before Brandon Logan beat out a bunt single for his first collegiate hit. Drew Berkland found the outfield grass with a single to left field, which allowed Zee to score from second for the 3-2 Irish lead.
Crowell added another three-up, three-down effort in the top of the fourth. Mark Quatrani led off the bottom half of the inning with a double, and Jayce Lee drew a one-out walk for the Irish. Mason Barth then blasted his first collegiate home run on the first pitch of his at-bat to push the Notre Dame lead to 6-2.
Noah Rooney entered the game in the top of the sixth and forced the Flames into stranding two runners on base. Notre Dame put three more runs on the scoreboard in their next at-bats. Brandon Logan had his second single of the game, and Noah Coy added a single of his own. Mark Quatrani then belted a home run to left field to put the Irish up 9-2.
The Flames plated a run in the top of the seventh, and the Irish responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Drew Berkland was hit by a pitch, and Noah Coy beat out a bunt single. An errant pick-off attempt then allowed Berkland to score for a 10-3 Irish advantage.
In the bottom of the eighth, Jayce Lee and Parker Brzustewicz started the offense by drawing back-to-back walks. Mason Barth laced a single to load the bases. With two outs gone, Brandon Logan drilled a grand slam on the second pitch of his at-bat to deep right field to end the game by a 14-3 final score.
Caden Crowell earned his first pitching win on the bump after going 5.1 with four strikeouts and a pair of runs allowed with just one walk. Noah Rooney went 2.2 innings with a strikeout in relief. The lefty earned the save after entering the game with the tying run on deck and getting out of the jam before closing out the game.
Brandon Logan was 3-for-5 at the plate with a grand slam, four RBIs and two runs scored. Noah Coy added a 3-for-5 effort with an RBI and two runs. Mark Quatrani had a pair of hits – a double and a home run – with three RBIs and two runs. Mason Barth posted two hits, including a homer, while driving in three and scoring twice. Parker Brzustewicz collected a pair of hits and scored once.
The Irish (5-3) will close out the Holiday Inn Classic on Sunday when they face host Tennessee Tech at 3:00 p.m. ET.