BRIGHTON, Mass. — The University of Notre Dame baseball team left no doubt in the final game of the regular season when the offense erupted for 11 runs in the 11-5 win over Boston College at Harrington Athletics Village on Saturday afternoon.
The Irish wasted no time with two runs in the opening inning on a home run from Niko Kavadas. They added another run in the second and two more in the third to grow the early lead. Notre Dame scored in each of the first seven innings to build a substantial lead that Cameron Brown and the Irish bullpen could protect.
Brown went six innings and allowed three earned runs while striking out seven for his fifth quality start of the season and earned his fourth win.
@NDBaseball | Highlights at Boston College (2019)
How It Happened
The Irish jumped out in front in the first inning thanks to their first two hitters. Spencer Myers got a lead-off walk and Kavadas brought him home on the towering home run to right field. It was his team-high 12th home run of the season and the most by an Irish hitter since Trey Mancini hit 12 during the 2012 campaign.
Notre Dame added another run in the top of the second. Jared Miller and Jack Zyska started the inning of with a walk and moved into scoring position after Zack Prajzner’s sacrifice bunt. Miller came around to score in the next at-bat on Myer’s ground out to third.
The Irish kept the momentum going with two more runs in the third. Carter Putz singled up the middle and scored on the next play as Daniel Jung ripped a double in the gap to right center. Then after moving to third on a ground out, Jung came home to score on Eric Gilgenbach’s RBI single to right.
The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the third but the Irish got the run back and then some in the very next inning. Myers singled and stole his second base of the game giving him 20 on the season. It is the most steals in a season since A.J. Pollock had 21 in 2009. Kavadas sent Myers home again, this time with a RBI single to right. With two outs in the inning, Jung battled at the plate to a full count and he crushed the pay-off pitch over the wall in right for his fifth home run of the year.
The offensive output continued for the Irish in the fifth. The Irish had the leadoff batter reach base for the fourth time after Miller reached base on a walk. Miller moved over to third with two outs in the inning and Myers brought him home after he doubled down the left field line.
Notre Dame made it six-straight innings with a run to start the game after one in the sixth. A single from LaManna got the inning started and he reached third base after Gilgenbach got on by a hit-by-pitch and then a sacrifice bunt. LaManna came around to score on Ryan Cole’s RBI single that dropped in left field.
The Eagles had a big sixth inning and cut the Irish lead in half after scoring four runs and it was a 10-5 ballgame after six frames. Boston College looked to add more in the inning but Myers dove to track down a deep fly ball in center to end the inning and prevent the Eagles from cutting into the deficit more.
The Irish did not allow the Eagles a shutdown inning in the seventh and it was Jung who delivered once again. After a Putz double to left field, Jung doubled down the right field line for his third hit of the day and tallied his fourth RBI when Putz scored from second.
Game Notes
»Niko Kavadas belted a two-run home run in the first for his team-leading 12th of the season. It is the most home runs by an Irish hitter since Trey Mancini hit 12 during the 2012 season.
»Kavadas ended the afternoon with three RBI to increase his total to 41 which also leads the team.
»Kavadas also tied a career high with two runs, the fifth time he has done that in his career.
»Spencer Myers set a career high with three stolen bases to bring his team-leading total to 21 on the season. It is the most steals by an Irish player since A.J. Pollock stole 21 during the 2009 season.
»Myers tied a career high with three hits, his sixth game this season with three hits.
»Daniel Jung tallied his fifth home run of the season in the fourth to increase the Irish lead.
»Jung ended the afternoon with three hits and four RBI, his third game this season with four RBI or more.
»Cameron Brown picked up his fifth quality start of the season after pitching six innings and allowing three earned runs.
»Brown tallied seven strikeouts on the afternoon, his 10th start this season with six or more.
»Ryan Cole tied a career high with two hits after coming on in the fifth inning as a defensive replacement.
Up Next
Notre Dame will head back to South Bend for a brief pit stop before heading to Durham for the 2019 ACC Baseball Tournament. Seeding and game times are still to be determined but pool play will begin Tuesday, May 21 and run until Friday, May 25.
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.
—ND—