SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team fell in a tight 8-4 final against No. 13 Virginia on Friday night at Frank Eck Stadium.
Noah Coy turned an unassisted double play to end the first inning, and Xavier Hirsch retired the side in order in the top of the second. Drew Berkland made a highlight catch in center field. Hirsch got a big strikeout before inducing a flyout to end the inning. Drew Berkland then drilled a lead-off solo home run to center field for an Irish lead. Noah Coy drew a walk and stole second, and Mark Quatrani drew a walk of his own to put a pair on base. Bino Watters wrapped a triple down the right field line as Coy and Quatrani both came in to score for the 3-0 lead.
The Cavaliers used a home run to plate a pair to make it a 3-2 game midway through the fourth.
Bino Watters added to the highlight collection with a big diving catch in the left-center gap in the top of the fifth, and Drew Berkland added a warning track catch to end the inning.
Virginia had a one-out single followed by a two-run home run to right field to go ahead 4-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Irish got the equalizer with a lead-off solo home run to right field by Noah Coy to knot it up 4-4.
Oisin Lee and the Irish got out of a jam in the top of the eighth. The Cavaliers led off with back-to-back singles, but Lee dialed up back-to-back strikeouts. The sophomore righty then induced a grounder to Noah Coy, and the Irish shortstop made the throw across in more than enough time to slam the door on Virginia.
The Cavaliers, however, led off the top of the ninth with a solo home run to gain the lead before adding three more runs for an 8-4 advantage.
Noah Coy had a home run and scored twice, and Drew Berkland added a home run to help pace the Irish. Bino Watters went 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI. Mark Quatrani had a hit and scored a run. Parker Brzustewicz notched a hit for the Irish.
Xavier Hirsch had a no-decision outing after getting the start and going 4.0 with a pair of strikeouts. Noah Rooney went 3.0 with two Ks, and Oisin Lee posted a scoreless inning of work with two strikeouts. Ty Uber shouldered the pitching loss after going 0.2 with a strikeout, and Aiden Zerr closed out the final 0.1 with a strikeout.
Notre Dame (15-14, 6-10 ACC) hosts game two of the three-game series against Virginia at 2:00 p.m. ET at Frank Eck Stadium. Fans will be able to participate in Irish Bingo for a chance to win free Irish Fries.