PITTSBURGH, PA – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (17-12) clinched the series win over the Pitt Panthers (14-15) after taking games one and two, but couldn’t complete the sweep as they fell 9-5 in the final game on Sunday, April 8.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first and second inning, the Irish were able to put two runs on the board in the top of the third. Zack Prajzner and Carter Putz hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second for the Irish. Both Prajzner and Putz moved into scoring position after advancing on a wild pitch with Brooks Coetzee up to the plate. Coetzee reached on a throwing error from third, while Prajzner and Putz were able to score on the misthrow.
Leading 2-0, the Irish and Panthers each recorded scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth. Pitt made it an even ballgame in the bottom of the sixth after a two-run home run to tie it up at 2-2 heading into the seventh.
TJ Williams reached after being hit by the pitch and was followed by a single to left field from Jack Penney to get things started. Prajzner reached via a walk and it was bases loaded for the Irish with just one out in the seventh. Putz stepped up to the plate and ripped it down the right field line for a 2-RBI double as he scored Williams and Penney. With two outs, pinch hitter Nick Juaire recorded a base hit that scored Prajzner, but Putz was out at the plate to close the frame as the Irish led 5-2.
The Panthers brought it within two in the bottom of the seventh and a scoreless frame from the Irish kept it at a 5-3 ballgame going into the bottom of the eighth. A six-run offensive outing from Pitt, which included back-to-back home runs, lifted the Panthers to a 9-5 advantage heading into the ninth inning.
Notre Dame wasn’t able to bridge the gap in their final opportunity at the plate and fell 9-5 to Pitt in game three.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame is back at home on Tuesday, April 11 to take on Michigan State at Frank Eck Stadium before resuming conference play at Clemson for a three-game series starting on Friday, April 14.