The University of Notre Dame baseball team (8-2) rallied from multiple run deficits for the second straight game, this time trailing by seven runs after the first inning, to sweep Tennessee Tech (6-5) 14-11 in game three of the series on Sunday afternoon in Cookeville, Tennessee.
The 43 runs in a three-game series (14-3 game one, 15-11 game two, 14-11 game three) are the most for the Irish program against a single opponent over three-straight games since a 42-run outburst against Wake Forest in 2022 and is just the third time Notre Dame has scored 40 runs in three straight games against a single team since 2001 (the team scored 40 against Rutgers over three games in 2006).
Notre Dame piled up 15 home runs over the weekend, with Jack Penney’s two home runs powering the comeback on Sunday. Penney and Tito Flores both drove in three runs in today’s victory, with Simon Baumgardt driving in two more with two doubles. Brady Gumpf provided insurance runs in the eighth inning with a pinch-hit two-run homer, his second of the series.
On the mound, the Irish bullpen was able to keep the home team to just two runs over the game’s final eight innings after a nine-run explosion in the bottom of the first. Keenan Mork picked up the win with two clean innings of work in the seventh and eighth, while Nate Hardman closed the door in the ninth inning for his third save.
Next up for the Irish is the home opener of the 2024 season against Purdue, set for Tuesday, March 5 (4:30 p.m. ET) at Frank Eck Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame started the scoring early in the game when Penney drew a seven-pitch walk and Flores followed with a home run to left field.
The two-run lead would evaporate quickly in the bottom of the inning. Tennessee Tech would end up with three walks, a hit-by-pitch and five hits (including a grand slam by Preston Steele) to drive Irish starting pitcher Caden Spivey out of the game without recording an out. Jack Radel came on in relief with the bases loaded and allowed three more runs across the plate before a sacrifice fly, strike out and pop up ended a nine-run, six-hit first inning for the home team.
The Irish started to eat away at the seven-run lead in the top of the third inning. Penney led off with a home run to center field on a 2-2 pitch. One out later Connor Hincks drew a walk, then ran home on a Simon Baumgardt double to the gap in right center field. Radel kept the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard to get his team’s offense back into the batter’s box in the top of the fourth.
DM Jefferson and Joey Spence drew walks from Tennessee Tech starter Jack Brafa to start the fourth. Reece McDuffie entered to pitch for Tech and hit T.J. Williams with his fifth pitch to load the bases for Penney. The Irish shortstop lifted a fly ball to right field, which was caught cleanly and a great throw from Tech’s Tanner Shiver allowed catcher Lawson Stricklin to get Jefferson out at the plate trying to score on the play. Now with runners at second and third, Tito Flores drove a 3-0 pitch through the left side of the Golden Eagle defense that allowed Spence to score from third and a fielding error in left field provided Williams the opportunity to score from second. The lead was down to three runs.
Tobey McDonough came in to relieve Radel in the bottom of the fourth and after a lead off walk, retired the next two batters to keep the momentum on Notre Dame’s side.
Baumgardt led off the fifth with a single to set the stage for another Irish home run in the series, this one from Josh Hahn to center field to drive in two more runs and cut the lead to one. After Estevan Moreno singled, Tech went to Brody Lanham in relief. Jefferson struck out, then Spence drew a walk before Williams doubled down the left field line and drove in Moreno with the game-tying run. A strike out and ground out ended the Irish threat in the inning but it was a new game heading into the sixth.
Notre Dame would have to try to rally again after the home team responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Will Jackobsen entered to pitch for the Irish with one out and a runner on first, with the runner eventually stealing second. After a walk, the runner from second scored on a wild pitch. Now with a runner on third after the wild throw, Tech’s Austin Turner drew a walk to put runners at first and third. A passed ball allowed the runner at third to score, but the Irish defense was able to end the inning by getting Turner in a run down attempting to advance past second base.
As it has the entire weekend, the Irish offense responded to a multiple-run deficit yet again. Spence posted a one-out single and after a strikeout, Penney delivered his second long ball of the game, this one a two-run shot to right center and the game was tied yet again 11-11.
Keenan Mork worked a clean bottom of the seventh in relief for Notre Dame and the Irish would take the lead for good in the eighth. Hincks led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Baumgardt then drove him in with a double to right field.
Hahn struck out and Moreno popped up which brought on Brady Gumpf to pinch hit. The move to the bench paid off as the senior drove a 1-2 pitch deep to left center for his second home run of the series to put the Irish up three runs.