CLEMSON, S.C. — Just like in the opening series of the season, the Notre Dame baseball team bounced back after dropping the series opener to defeat the Clemson Tigers 3-1 Saturday afternoon from Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
“The fifth and sixth swings of Putz’s hit and Kavadas’ home run gave us a quick lift,” said head coach Link Jarrett. “Bertrand pitched a great game and was in command of multiple pitches in any count, and moved his fastball around nicely. It was a tremendous outing.”
Senior slugger Niko Kavadas got the Irish (3-2, 3-2 ACC) going with a two-run home run in the first to put them ahead early. That was all the support John Michael Bertrand needed as he was stellar on the mound against the Tigers (5-3, 1-1 ACC). He pitched seven innings and allowed just one run to cross the plate while tying a career high with eight strikeouts. Will Mercer continued the success on the mound to close the game for his first career save.
“We had lots of activity in the bullpen and eventually went to Mercer,” said Jarrett. “He did exactly what we had seen him do versus our own hitters. Tough to square the ball up. Clemson’s two pitchers both were very effective and I thought both teams played very solid, rangy defense.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
For the fourth time this season, Notre Dame got off to a fast start and scored in the game’s opening frame. Coming off a night where he reached base in all five at-bats, Carter Putz singled to get on base in the first. Stepping into the batter’s box with two away, Kavadas crushed a ball to dead center that cleared the wall for a two-run home run. It is Kavadas’ third homer of the season and the Irish held an early 2-0 lead.
Clemson got a run back in the fourth inning but Bertrand limited the damage and the Irish responded with a run of their own in the fifth.
Jack Brannigan started the inning off with a single and advanced to second on a ground out. The red-hot Putz came to the plate and doubled down the left field line to score Brannigan. It was Putz’s third hit of the ball game and the Irish were back up by two at 3-1.
Bertrand was solid all afternoon for the Irish. After Clemson scored 13 runs in the opener, Bertrand kept their bats quiet through seven innings of work. Bertrand only had five base runners get on with three hits and two walks and had just the one run cross home plate.
Mercer came on in relief in the eighth and shut the door for the Irish. With just one hit and one walk allowed, Mercer closed out the game for his first career save.
STATS OF THE GAME
- Niko Kavadas belted his third home run of the season to up his career total to 27.
- John Michael Bertrand tied a career high with eight strikeouts.
- Carter Putz tied a career high with three hits and has reached base in nine of 10 at-bats in this series.
- Will Mercer earned his first career save after two innings of scoreless relief.
UP NEXT
The Irish and Tigers will meet for the rubber match Sunday afternoon. Game three of the series is set for a noon start on the ACC Network Extra. The Irish will be sending RHP Christian Scafidi to the mound in hopes of locking the series up.
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