CLEMSON, SC – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish advance to 18-13 on the season after taking down the Clemson Tigers (20-15) on the road on Friday, April 14. The 10-4 victory was sparked by a big third inning as Notre Dame picked up their eighth ACC win of the year and are now 8-8 in the conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish trailed 2-0 heading into the top of the third until a hot six-run frame lifted Notre Dame to a four-run advantage over the Tigers.
Base hits from Danny Neri and Jack Penney coupled with a walk from TJ Williams loaded the bases for the Irish to start the top of the third. Zack Prajzner recorded his first hit of the day with an RBI single to score Neri and put Notre Dame on the board.
With bases loaded, Carter Putz reached via a walk and scored Williams to make it an even 2-2. Brooks Coetzee followed with a single through the left side as Penney was sent home to give the Irish their first lead of the day at 3-2 with no outs.
Vinny Martinez ripped it to left field to record a 2-RBI double as Prajzner and Putz scored to extend the lead 5-2. Coetzee would score from third after a Tiger throwing error on the pickoff attempt and the Irish would close the third with the 6-2 advantage.
Jackson Dennies started on the mound for Notre Dame, throwing 4.0 innings and striking out two batters. Dennies was relieved by Caden Spivey to start the bottom of the fourth.
After a scoreless fourth, the Irish tacked on another two runs in the top of the fifth. Williams homered to deep left field for his fourth home run of the season as he scored Estevan Moreno.
The Tigers closed the gap to five in the bottom of the seventh to make it an 8-3 ballgame, but the Irish offense wasn’t done yet. Neri reached on a walk to start the top of the eighth and advanced to scoring position after a passed ball, followed by a sac bunt from Williams to send Neri to third. Penney followed with a base hit and as Prajzner reached on a walk, it was now bases loaded again for the Irish.
Coetzee recorded his third hit of the day as he doubled down the left field line and scored Neri and Penney. The Irish extended their lead to 10-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Clemson would score one more run as both the Irish and Tigers hung zeros in the ninth to give the Irish the first game of the series.
Spivey would take home his first win after pitching 2.0 innings, striking out two batters, and allowing just one hit and no runs. Aidan Tyrell closed for the Irish and picked up his first save of the year.