Toledo Box Score | UTSA Box Score
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The University of Notre Dame baseball team split the doubleheader in its final day of the Alamo Irish Classic. Notre Dame defeated Toledo 9-2 in the first game before falling to UTSA 4-1 in the second game. The Irish finished the Alamo Irish Classic with a 2-1 record.
How it Happened – Toledo
Notre Dame struck first once again at the Alamo Irish Classic, scoring a run in the bottom of the first. Spencer Myers led the inning off with a single, advanced on a groundout and then stole third. With Zack Prajzner at the plate, a pitch in the dirt got away from the catcher and Myers came home to score.
The lead did not last long for the Irish as Toledo put two runs on the board in the top half of the third after a RBI single and a bases-loaded walk.
The Irish tied the game back up in the bottom of the fourth when Jack Zyska scored off the sacrifice fly by Jared Miller.
The Irish retook the lead in the fifth thanks to a Jack Brannigan double in the gap in left center. Gilgenbach scored on the play and LaManna made it to third. The Irish added two more runs in the inning lead 5-2 after five.
After coming into the game in the third inning and getting out of the bases loaded jam, Vail was dominant on the mound and shut down the Toledo bats. Vail pitched a career high 5.1 innings of relief and allowed just one hit, no walks and struck out a career high nine. He set down the final 11 batters he faced and struck out six in a row at one point.
Notre Dame added two insurance runs in sixth after a throwing error on a double steal. Then in the eighth, Myers drove in two more runs on an RBI single to seal the first game for the Irish.
How It Happened – UTSA
It was a pitcher’s duel through the first five innings of the second game between the Irish and Roadrunners. Alex Rao and Shane Daughety both limited the opposing offenses and allowed just five combined hits.
In just his second career start, Rao was strong out of the gate against the Roadrunners. He struck out a career high six through 4.2 innings and allowed just two hits. He got into trouble in the fifth but Joe Boyle entered the game and got the Irish out of a jam. With the bases loaded and two outs, Boyle struck out Rock on three pitches to end the inning.
Miscues caught up the Irish in the sixth as UTSA broke through the scoreless tie. The Roadrunners scored three times in the top half of the sixth and all three runs were unearned.
The Irish put together a late rally in the ninth and got the go-ahead run to the plate with the bases loaded. The Irish scored once in the ninth but were unable to make up all of the deficit.
Game Notes
- Tommy Vail recorded career highs in innings pitched (5.1) and strikeouts (9) en route to his first win of the season in game one against Toledo.
- Notre Dame tallied six steals in the win over Toledo. It is the most steals in a game since March 26, 2019 when they had 14 against Chicago State.
- Spencer Myers tied a career high with three steals against Toledo. This is the third time in his career he has totaled three steals in a game.
- Freshman Liam Simon made his first collegiate appearance in the ninth inning against Toledo.
- Fellow freshman Jack Brannigan made his first collegiate appearance on the mound in the ninth inning against UTSA.
Up Next
The Irish will head back to campus for the week before hitting the road again next weekend. Notre Dame will travel to Clinton, SC for a three game series against Presbyterian. The first game is set for Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the Irish baseball program, follow @NDBaseball on Twitter and @NotreDameBaseball on Instagram.
—ND—