May 17, 2018
By Michael Scholl
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Matt Vierling keyed a three-run eighth inning that tied the game, but the Irish dropped a 5-4 decision at No. 25 Louisville on Thursday night in the first game of a three-game set.
The Fighting Irish (24-26, 12-16 ACC) took an early lead before falling behind, 4-1. The three-run eighth tied it before Britton delivered a walk-off single to give Louisville (38-16, 16-12 ACC) the victory.
Starter Scott Tully kept Notre Dame in the game, allowing four runs in five innings. Four Irish pitchers were solid in relief, as Tommy Vail, Anthony Holubecki, Andrew Belcik and Cole Kmet combined to throw three-plus innings of one-run ball.
Vierling 2-for-4 with three RBI, with an RBI single to score the first run of the game. Jake Johnson scored twice, while Nick Podkul and Vierling also scored.
How It Happened
The Irish made sure Tully took the mound with the lead in the first. Johnson and Podkul drew consecutive one-out walks before Vierling smashed a ball through the left side to score Johnson. After a wild pitch, Kavadas struck out on a six-pitch at-bat before Kershner walked after seeing eight pitches. Gilgenbach also battled but went down swinging on the seventh pitch of his at-bat to end the threat.
Louisville scratched across a run to tie the game in the second. Josh Stowers reached on a bunt single, then moved up to second on a balk. Danny Oriente was retired on a bunt attempt before Drew Campbell bunted for a base hit to put runners on the corners. Pat Rumoro then singled up the middle, with a soft liner that was just out of the reach of a diving Podkul. Tully then struck Justin Lavey out looking before getting Tyler Fitzgerald to hit a grounder to Cole Daily at short, who flipped to Podkul at second for the third out.
The Cardinals used the long ball to take the lead in the third. Devin Mann hit a one-out triple to right-center before Logan Wyatt drilled a 2-2 pitch beyond the wall in right to make it 3-1. Louisville added another run in the fifth. Jake Snider started the frame with a double. After a flyout, Wyatt singled to center, scoring Snider. Tully then pitched around a single and walk to limit the damage and keep Louisville’s lead at 4-1 after five.
Notre Dame tied the game with a three-run eighth. Daily started the rally with a single up the middle, before Johnson hit into a fielder’s choice. Podkul singled to center, moving Johnson up to second before Vierling drove a ball into the right-field corner for a triple, scoring both runs. Vierling then came home to tie the game when Austin Conway uncorked a wild pitch. Kerschner went down on strikes to end the frame with the score tied, 4-4.
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Here’s Vierling’s two-run triple to make it 4-3. He’d then score to tie the game on a wild pitch.
4-4 | Mid 8#GoIrish | #BeatCardinals pic.twitter.com/0u49sWNoVQ
— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) May 18, 2018
Holubecki concluded a strong relief effort by getting a groundout before Belcik came into to get a popout and strikeout to keep it tied going to the ninth.
In a controversial ninth inning, the Cardinals took a walk-off victory. It started when Mann hit a one-out single up the middle, then moved up to second on a wild pitch after initially being called out. He was awarded the base on what appeared to be an inconclusive replay. The Irish intentionally walked Wyatt before Stowers earned a walk to load the bases. Mik Aoki went back to his bullpen, bringing in Kmet who allowed a walk-off single to Elliott, giving Louisville the 5-4 win.
Up Next
The Irish and Cardinals are scheduled to meet for the regular season’s penultimate game on Friday, May 18 at Jim Patterson Stadium. First pitch has been moved up to 2 p.m. due to the threat of inclement weather.
— ND —
Michael Scholl has been a member of the Fighting Irish Media communications staff at his alma mater since August 2016. He serves as the secondary contact for the Irish football and hockey teams while coordinating communications efforts for the women’s tennis program. Scholl has previously worked in communications at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Providence College, Vanderbilt University and the University of Cincinnati. The South Bend, Indiana, native earned a degree in political science from the College of Arts and Letters in 2009.