RALEIGH, N.C. – Notre Dame (14-11, 2-9 ACC) fell in the bottom of the ninth 7-6 to No. 22 NC State (17-7, 7-4 ACC) Saturday.
INF Estevan Moreno led the Irish with two hits, both doubles, and three RBI on the evening, also notching three assists at second base. Notre Dame posted six doubles in the game, the most for the Irish in a single game since March 15, 2022 vs. Valparaiso (seven).
RHP Caden Spivey (1-1) took the loss for Notre Dame, while RHP Jack Radel made his fourth-career start, going four innings and allowing one run.
Notre Dame led 3-1 until the sixth inning, when NC State took a 5-3 lead, adding one in the sixth to make it 6-3. The Irish added three in the eighth to tie it, but a Wolfpack walk off RBI single ended the game in the bottom of the ninth.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame batters battled in the box early, forcing a full 3-2 count three times through the first two innings. OF David Glancy drew a one-out walk in the first inning, but two quick outs sent the Irish to the field. Radel and the Irish sat NC State down in order.
In the second, OF Tito Flores also drew a one-out walk, and after an out, C Carson Tinney walked, as well. A strikeout ended the inning, however, with both on base. Radel held the Wolfpack off the board in the second, earning his first strikeout to end the inning with two runners on base.
OF T.J. Williams led off the third inning with a double, and scored on a Glancy single to center field to strike first for Notre Dame. Three strikeouts ended the top of the inning. NC State responded in the bottom of the inning, posting two-consecutive singles to lead off, and both runners advanced to scoring position on a fly ball. A grounder scored one to tie the game, and Radel forced another ground ball to end the inning tied up at one run apiece.
Flores led off the fourth inning with a double, and after a flyout, Tinney sent another double, this one to right field, to score Flores. Moreno hit Notre Dame’s third double of the inning, scoring Tinney and putting the Irish up 3-1. Radel and the Irish retired NC State in order, with INF Simon Baumgardt snagging two popups and Radel adding a strikeout.
For the third-straight inning, Notre Dame led off with a double, courtesy INF Connor Hincks, but Hincks was tagged out on his attempt to take third. Baumgardt and INF Jack Penney followed with singles, but two outs prevented the Irish from adding to the score. RHP Bennett Flynn began the bottom of the fifth on the mound and forced a flyout before walking two batters. Both batters took a base on a wild pitch, and with two in scoring position, Penney took care of the final two outs on a popup and groundout to hold the Wolfpack away from home.
The Irish were unable to add in the sixth. The Wolfpack led off the bottom half with a single, and a walk placed two on base. After a Flynn strikeout, another single loaded the bases, and NC State delivered a grand slam to go up 5-3. After a walk, Baumgardt snagged a line drive and turned to Hincks at first for the double play to end the inning.
Notre Dame went three up, three down in the seventh, and Spivey took the mound. After a groundout, a walk placed a runner on base, and a single pushed the lead runner to third. Spivey dealt a strikeout, but a single scored another for NC State. A flyout ended the inning with the Wolfpack up 6-3.
The Irish came alive in the eighth inning and batted through the lineup, as Penney led off with a single and Flores followed suit, hitting a single as Penney took third on a subsequent error. A wild pitch sent Penney to score, while Flores took second. DH Joey Spence drew a walk, and INF Casey Kmet entered to pinch run. Tinney laid down a bunt in front of the plate to push both runners a base into scoring position, and Moreno followed with his second double of the evening to score both Flores and Kmet. Williams and Glancy drew consecutive walks to load the bases, and Hincks hit into a fielder’s choice to keep the bases loaded but tag Moreno out at home. A strikeout ended the top of the inning with a tie 6-6 score.
After a foul-out to Tinney in the bottom of the eighth, a walk and a single placed two runners on base. A lineout to center field advanced the lead runner to third, but a pivotal strikeout from Spivey ended the inning and held NC State from scoring.
Penney forced an error to lead off the ninth, and after two outs, Tinney singled to push Penney to third. Tinney stole second, but a strikeout ended the inning. NC State led off with a single, and after a flyout, added another single. A HBP loaded the bases, and an RBI single won the game for NC State, 7-6.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame and No. 22 NC State return to Doak Field at Dail Park for the series finale Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX.