CLEMSON, S.C. – The Notre Dame baseball team fought back but were unable to overtake No. 10 Clemson in an 11-7 final on Saturday afternoon.
Clemson struck first as the Tigers plated three runs in the first and added four in the second to spot an early lead.
The Irish came fighting back in the top of the third. Connor Hincks drew a lead-off walk before Nick DeMarco added a walk of his own two batters later. Jared Zimbardo punched a single through the infield to drive in Hincks for the first run of the game for Notre Dame. Parker Brzustewicz put the pressure on by putting the ball in play, and the Tigers had a throwing error on the play that allowed DeMarco to score while Zimbardo and Brzustewicz both moved into scoring position. Estevan Moreno kept things going with a single to drive in DeMarco, and a passed ball allowed Brzustewicz to come in and score as the Irish made it a 7-4 game.
Clemson countered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 10-4 through three complete. The Tigers added a run in the fourth before Kellan Klosterman induced a two-out fly out with bases loaded to get the Irish off the field defensively.
Parker Brzustewicz led off the top of the fifth with a strong line drive single up the middle, and Estevan Moreno was hit by a pitch to put a pair on base. Jayce Lee worked a full count with two outs gone later in the inning before drawing a walk to load the bases. Connor Hincks drew chalk with a laser up the line on a 3-1 count for a bases-clearing double to get the Irish within four at 11-7.
Kellan Klosterman drew back-to-back fly ball outs to right field before a ground out to Moreno at shortstop moved the game to the sixth inning. The wind did not do the Irish any favors in the top of the sixth as hard-hit shots by Nick DeMarco and Estevan Moreno remained in play for the Tigers to make plays on for outs. On the defensive side, the Irish retired the Tigers to keep the difference at four.
Davis Johnson was hit by a pitch to start the top of the seventh, and a groundout allowed Johnson to move into scoring position. Connor Hincks was hit by a pitch with two outs to put a pair on base for the Irish, but the pair remained on base as the Tigers induced a grounder to end the inning. The defense, meanwhile, retired the Clemson side in order in the bottom half of the frame.
Brady Koester and the Irish defense forced the Tigers into stranding bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth as the game moved to the final frame. Despite scoring the final three runs of the game, the Irish ultimately fell short in the 11-7 final.
Jackson Dennies went one-plus on the mound and suffered the decision for the Irish. DJ Helwig struck out a pair over 2.2 innings of work. Justin Mayes Jr., Kellan Klosterman, and Brady Koester did not allow a hit or a run over the final four innings of play.
Connor Hincks had a three-RBI double in his only official at-bat and added two walks and a run for the Irish. Nick DeMarco had a hit, scored a run, and drew a walk. Estevan Moreno and Jared Zimbardo each had a hit, a run, and an RBI. Parker Brzustewicz posted a hit and scored twice while drawing a pair of walks.
The Irish (10-6, 0-5 ACC) close out the weekend series against No. 10 Clemson on Sunday with a noon contest.