KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – The Notre Dame baseball team took an 11-6 win over Queens University of Charlotte at Atrium Health Ballpark on Tuesday night.The Royals got on the scoreboard with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning as Queens took the early lead.
Jamie Zee got the Irish on the scoreboard with a lead-off solo home run in the bottom of the third inning. Noah Coy reached on an error, and Mark Quatrani laced a single into the outfield. Bino Watters drew a walk to load the bases before Jayce Lee drilled a double deep to the outfield wall, driving in all three runners for a 4-1 lead. Parker Brzustewicz added a double down the right field line to drive in Lee to make it 5-1.
The Royals plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to push the score to 5-3. Chase Van Ameyde then retired the side in order with three consecutive strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth.<
Queens cut the Irish lead to one with an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth, but Xavier Hirsch got a strikeout and an easy come-back grounder to force the Royals into stranding a runner on third.
Mark Quatrani and Bino Watters led off the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, a fielder’s choice play at the plate saw Mark Quatrani avoid the tag to score for a 6-4 lead.
Queens scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 6-6.
Jamie Zee drew a lead-off walk, and Drew Berkland added a single to put a pair on base in the top of the eighth. Noah Coy put down a sacrifice bunt to move the pair into scoring position. Mark Quatrani drew a walk, and Bino Watters punched a two-RBI single to left field to drive in Zee and Berkland for an 8-6 advantage. On the defensive end, Jamie Zee snagged a grounder and turned a double play to force the Royals into a scoreless eighth after putting a pair of runners on base.
Davis Johnson drew a lead-off walk, and Jamie Zee earned a four-pitch walk as the Irish had runners on the corners in the top of the ninth. Drew Berkland used a sacrifice fly to drive in Johnson as Zee advanced to second on the throw. Noah Coy was hit by a pitch. Mark Quatrani put the first pitch of his at-bat in play with a single just inside the right foul line, and Zee came in to score. A balk allowed Coy to score from third as the Irish lead grew to 11-6.
Aiden Zerr went 2.2 innings with a strikeout after getting the start. Chase Van Ameyde posted four strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work, and Xavier Hirsch went 2.2 with a pair of strikeouts. Oisin Lee went 1.1 on the bump and took the win in relief. Dylan Singleton closed out the game by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the ninth.
Mark Quatrani went 4-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Jamie Zee scored three times and had a solo home run for the Irish. Jayce Lee drove in three runs with a double while Bino Watters had two hits, two walks, two RBI and a run scored. Parker Brzustewicz had a double and two RBI, and Noah Coy scored twice. Drew Berkland had a hit, a run, and an RBI while Brandon Logan added a hit.
The Irish (10-4) return to ACC action on Friday when they open up a three-game series at Louisville. Game one is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. ET.