Box Score (PDF)
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Notre Dame baseball team erupted for a 14-1 win on Saturday to set up a Sunday rubber match at Florida Atlantic University.
Caden Crowell used the first strikeout of his collegiate pitching career to force the Owls into stranding bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning.
Davis Johnson was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the second, and Jayce Lee put a pair of runners into scoring position with a double down the left field line. Two batters later, Dylan Passo used a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Johnson for the 1-0 lead.
The Irish added to their lead in the top of the third after hitting through the order. Drew Berkland was hit by a pitch to start things off, and the grad student stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error on the play. Bino Watters then bounced a single up the middle for a 2-0 Notre Dame advantage. Mark Quatrani was hit by a pitch to put a pair on base with no outs gone. Parker Brzustewicz put down a bunt that resulted in an error by the Owls as they tried to cut down Quatrani at second. The errant throw allowed Watters to score easily on the play for a 3-0 lead. Jayce Lee added a single through the right side, driving in Quatrani for the Irish. A sacrifice fly by Noah Coy allowed Brzustewicz to score easily from third as the Irish made it a 5-0 game.
Bino Watters led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run to right field for the first homer of the season for the Irish. Quatrani singled up the middle and moved all the way up to third on a fielder’s choice and a balk before Davis Johnson drove him in with a sacrifice fly. Jayce Lee added a solo homer the opposite way to put the Irish up 8-0.
The Owls got into the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth to make it an 8-1 score. Xavier Hirsch pitched out of a bit of a jam in the fifth with a strikeout looking as Owls stranded runners on second and third.
Mark Quatrani and Parker Brzustewicz led off the sixth with back-to-back singles, and Noah Coy drove in the pair with a two-out single to left field to make it 10-1.
The Irish tacked on another run in the top of the ninth inning. Noah Coy drew a lead-off walk, and Dylan Passo was hit by a pitch. A pair of fielder’s choices later, Coy scored from third to give Notre Dame the 11-1 lead. Bino Watters lined a single off the Owls’ pitcher, and Mark Quatrani drew a walk to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Drew Berkland to score. Caleb Ricks then laced a double down the left field line to drive in Watters and Quatrani to make it 14-1.
Kellan Klosterman made quick work of the Owls in the bottom of the ninth by retiring the side in order on just six pitches.
Jayce Lee went 3-for-6 with a home run, a double and a single. Lee drove in three runs and scored a run in the win. Bino Watters added a 3-for-6 effort at the dish with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Mark Quatrani went 2-for-3 with four runs and two walks. Parker Brzustewicz added a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with a pair of runs. Caleb Ricks picked up the first hit of his collegiate career – a two-RBI double. Noah Coy and Dylan Passo each tallied a hit while Coy drove in three runs and Passo drove in one.
Caden Crowell went 3.0 in his first collegiate start as the freshman lefty struck out three and did not surrender a hit. Xavier Hirsch picked up the win in relief after 4.0 innings of effective work for the Irish. Hirsch struck out a career-high six batters and did not issue a walk. Will Jaisle made his collegiate debut and went 1.0 with a strikeout, and Kellan Klosterman closed out the game with a three-up, three-down ninth.
The series rubber match between the Irish (1-1) and the Owls is scheduled for noon on Sunday in Boca Raton.