SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The 13th-ranked Notre Dame baseball team (22-8) started its five-game homestand with a 5-1 win over Valparaiso (13-19) Tuesday afternoon at Frank Eck Stadium. The Irish pitching staff allowed just one run, three hits and did not walk a batter as they improved to 6-0 in midweek games this season.
In his first career start, Jack Brannigan put on his best performance of the season. He struck out the side in the opening inning and went a career-high 3.0 innings to earn his second win of the season. Brannigan tied a career high with four strikeouts in the outing.
At the plate, the Irish scored three runs in the opening inning and never looked back. Carter Putz and Ryan Cole tallied multi-hit games while Jack Penney hit his first career home run in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Irish got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs in the opening frame. They got the first run after just two pitches as Spencer Myers hit a double in the first pitch of the at-bat and Cole followed it up with a single to score Myers on the first pitch of his at-bat. Later in the inning, Jack Zyska hit a double off the wall in left center that scored two and put the Irish up 3-0 after one.
Brannigan departed after three innings and Roman Kimball came on to continue the strong pitching for the Irish. Kimball retired the first 11 batters he faced until the Beacons got on the board with a solo home run in the seventh. Kimball got the final out of the inning to limit the damage and keep the Irish in front, 3-1.
The Irish got the run back and then some in the bottom half of the seventh. Zack Prajzner led the inning off with a single to left and then came home on the blast from Penney. Penney turned on a pitch and sent it over the wall in right for his first career home run.
Aidan Tyrell came on to close out the final two innings for the Irish. He allowed just one hit in two innings of work to seal the win. The trio of Irish pitchers did not walk a batter the entire game, the second time the Irish staff has not allowed a walk in a game this season.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back at work Wednesday night for their second midweek matchup of the week. Notre Dame welcomes Purdue Fort Wayne to Frank Eck Stadium for the second game of the week-long homestand. Wednesday’s game is set for a 5 p.m. ET first pitch and will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra. Admission is free for all fans this season at Frank Eck Stadium.
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