March 5, 2017
By Michael Scholl
CARY, North Carolina — Brad Bass and Daniel Jung combined to help the Notre Dame baseball team win its second straight game to close out the USA Baseball-Irish Classic on Sunday afternoon. Bass struck-out nine Monmouth Hawks in seven innings of shutout ball, while Daniel Jung delivered a pair of solo home runs in a 4-0 Irish win.
Jung becomes the first Irish player with two homers in a game since Jake Shepski hit three at Virginia Tech on March 24 last season.
Key Innings
Bottom Fourth
Daniel Jung broke up the pitchers’ duel that had settled in over the first four innings, driving a pitch past the wall in right field to make it 1-0 Notre Dame. It was the first career home run for the rookie.
Top Fifth
With Bass having allowed one hit through four, he faced his toughest challenge in the fifth. Ryan Bailey reached with a one-out single before Bass issued a five-pitch walk to Justin Trochiano. Bass then froze Danny Long for a strikeout, following by swinging K of JP Walsh to get out of the jam and preserve a 1-0 lead.
Bottom Sixth
Jung wasn’t done yet. This time he sent a line drive over the wall in right-center, extending the Irish lead to 2-0.
Bottom Eighth
Kyle Fiala started a two-run Irish eighth with a single up the middle, followed by a steal of second. Mik Aoki called for a sacrifice bunt and Nick Podkul delivered with a bunt single. Podkul stole second base before Matt Vierling drilled a single down the left field line to make it 4-0.
Top Ninth
Aoki called on Jake Shepski to come in from right field and finish off the Hawks. He induced a leadoff groundout before Aidan Favia reached on a throwing error and Ryan Bailey drew a walk. Shepski then buckled down and got consecutive strikeouts to end the game.
On Deck
With the three neutral site tournaments in the books, the Irish turn their attention to Atlantic Coast Conference play. Notre Dame opens the ACC campaign at Clemson with a three-game set Friday-Sunday, March 10-12. All three contests can be heard live on WatchND and seen on ACC Network Extra, via the WatchESPN app and watchespn.com.
— ND —
Michael Scholl joined Fighting Irish Media in August 2016, coordinating communications for the baseball program and assisting with the football team at his alma mater. The South Bend native earned a degree in political science from the College of Arts & Letters in 2009 before going on to work in athletics communications at Providence College, Vanderbilt and Cincinnati.