SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team took a 6-1 victory over in-state foe Valparaiso on Tuesday evening at Frank Eck Stadium.
Caden Crowell forced the Beacons into stranding the bases loaded and struck out the side in the top of the first inning. Mark Quatrani then used a 424-foot homer to get the Irish on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the opening frame.
Crowell kept the Beacons off the scoreboard in the top of the third by closing the inning with a strikeout, and the freshman retired the side in order in the top of the third on two strikeouts and a pop up.
The Beacons used a solo home run in the top of the fifth to tie the game up at 1-1.
Shane Miranda laced a single into the outfield, and Jamie Zee drew a full-count walk with one out to put two aboard for the Irish in the bottom of the sixth. Noah Coy followed suit with a walk of his own. Mark Quatrani drew a walk to drive in Miranda for a 2-1 Irish lead. Bino Watters then drove in a pair with a solid single to right field as Zee and Coy came in to score for a 4-1 lead.
Noah Rooney retired the side in order in the top of the seventh for the Irish. Parker Brzustewicz and Shane Miranda hit back-to-back doubles to add to the Irish lead in the bottom of the seventh. Jamie Zee made it three doubles in a row as Miranda came around to score for a 6-1 Irish advantage.
Oisin Lee had a strikeout in a scoreless inning of work on the mound in the eighth, and Will Jaisle capped off the game with a scoreless effort in the ninth to close out the 6-1 Irish win.
Shane Miranda went 3-for-3 at the dish with an RBI double and two runs. Bino Watters added a 3-for-5 effort with a double and two RBI. Mark Quatrani went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two RBI and a run. Parker Brzustewicz and Jamie Zee each had a double and scored a run while Zee added an RBI. Noah Coy scored once and walked twice, and Mason Barth and Jayce Lee each tallied a hit.
Caden Crowell went 3.0 on the mound with a career-best six strikeouts. Eli Thurmond added 2.0 on the bump with three Ks. Noah Rooney earned the win in relief after 2.0 innings of hitless work. Oisin Lee and Will Jaisle each posted a shutout inning down the stretch for the Irish.
Notre Dame (17-15) return to ACC action this weekend when they travel to Florida State for a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 17 at 6:00 p.m.