Box Score (PDF)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Irish put up a four-spot in the bottom of the first inning and led the rest of the way in a 7-4 victory over No. 17 Louisville as the Notre Dame baseball team captured their third-consecutive ACC series.

The Irish got things going as Davis Johnson drew a lead-off walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Carson Tinney drew a walk, and Bino Watters punched a single through the right side of the infield to drive in Johnson while Tinney moved up to third. Two batters later, Connor Hincks used a ground out to drive in Tinney for a 2-0 lead. Estevan Moreno drew a full-count walk, and DM Jefferson drilled a double down the left field line as Watters and Moreno both scored on the play.

Defensively, Notre Dame forced Louisville into stranding a runner on third in both the first and second innings as Jackson Dennies put together a solid outing on the mound. An around-the-horn double play by the Irish ended the third inning, and a pair of grounders turned into outs in the fourth as Notre Dame again forced the Cardinals into stranding a runner in scoring position.

The Irish added to the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Bino Watters bounced a single up the middle, and Connor Hincks added a single before moving up to second on the throw to third as Watters slid in safely. Watters then scored on a wild pitch for a 5-0 Notre Dame lead.

The Cardinals got into the scoring column in the top of the sixth with a pair of runs before Oisin Lee got a strikeout and a fly out to end the inning.

Notre Dame got both runs back in the bottom of the seventh. Davis Johnson drew a full-count walk to start the inning, and Carson Tinney blasted a moon shot well over the left field wall on the first pitch of his at-bat to put the Irish up 7-2.

Back-to-back doubles by Louisville in the top of the eighth saw the Cardinals make it a three-run game at 7-4. Tobey McDonough came on in relief in the top of the ninth and shut the door on any thoughts of a late-inning comeback to close out the game and series win.

Jackson Dennies went 4.2 on the mound and scattered four hits with no walks and no extra-base hits in his outing. Oisin Lee posted 1.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts, and Ricky Reeth struck out a batter in 2.0 innings of work while collecting the win in relief. Tobey McDonough registered his seventh save of the season with a strikeout and one hit in the final inning of the game.

Bino Watters went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Connor Hincks added a pair of hits and an RBI. Carson Tinney belted a home run and drove in a pair, scored twice, and walked once. Davis Johnson scored two runs and walked twice. DM Jefferson had a double and two RBI. Estevan Moreno added a hit, a walk, and a run, and Nick DeMarco collected a hit and drew a walk.

The Irish (26-19, 12-15 ACC) resume play after finals week when they host Bowling Green for games on Friday and Saturday before making the trip to Ohio on Sunday. Friday night’s game starts at 6:30 p.m. The first 500 fans at the game will receive a free mini pennant. All home regular season baseball games are free.