March 19, 2018
By Megan Golden
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Thirty-two days after its season began at ninth-ranked LSU, the University of Notre Dame baseball team finally has returned home and is prepared to host NIU in its home opener.
The Irish (8-10) are looking to return to the win column after ending an 18-game road swing, including 11 straight games in the state of Florida, with a series loss at No. 7 Florida State. The Huskies (4-14), meanwhile, were swept by Indiana this past weekend and have now lost eight straight games.
WHAT: NIU vs. Notre Dame
WHEN: Tuesday, March 20 at 6:05 p.m. ET
WHERE: Frank Eck Stadium
LIVE STREAM: ACC Network Extra
RADIO: 103.1 FM South Bend/WatchNDLIVE STATS: Click .
Series History: NIU
Notre Dame leads the all-time series, 8-2, including going a perfect 4-0 at home. The Irish have won six straight against the Huskies.
Most recently, the two teams squared off in Notre Dame’s 2017 home opener, when the Irish topped the Huskies, 12-1.
Home Sweet Home
The Irish have gone 18-5-1 in home lid-lifters at Frank Eck Stadium, including seven straight wins under head coach Mik Aoki (7-0).
Notre Dame finished its 2017 season with an 18-9 record at home. The Irish have gone 74-49 at home over the last five years. Notre Dame has finished above .500 at home in each of the last seven seasons since going 8-15 in 2010.
Notes
- RHP Zack Martin will start for the Irish and will face NIU’s RHP Blake Walker.
- Matt Vierling has hit .381 (16-42) with one double and three home runs in the month of March.
- Daniel Jung is one hit away from 50 in his career, and Nick Podkul needs one RBI to total 50 in his career.
For a behind-the-scenes look at the Irish baseball program, follow @NDBaseball on Twitter and @NotreDameBaseball on Instagram. For tickets to an Irish baseball game, click here.
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Megan Golden, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since August of 2016. In her role, she coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame baseball and women’s soccer programs. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Golden is a 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s College and former Irish women’s basketball manager. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame, she worked in public relations with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.