CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (15-17, 2-15) were back at North Carolina (28-7, 13-4) on Saturday, April 13, falling 7-2 as they head into their final game of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon.
The Irish finished with nine hits on the day, led by Simon Baumgardt who recorded two hits, one run, and one RBI. Connor Hincks who finished with two hits and one RBI, followed by TJ Williams who finished with one hit and one run for the Irish.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNC would take the 1-0 advantage in the first inning as the Irish responded with two hits in the top of the second. Baumgardt and Hincks started the frame with back-to-back singles and while it was followed by a Tito Flores sac bunt, the Irish would strikeout in the next two at bats.
The Tar Heels led off the bottom of the second with a solo blast to left field, giving UNC the 2-0 lead after two.
Jack Radel started on the mound for the Irish, recording two strikeouts across the third and fourth innings as UNC went three up, three down in back-to-back frames.
Flores led off the top of the fifth with a single to left field and advanced to scoring position, but the Irish closed the frame with three groundouts to head to the bottom of the inning.
The Tar Heels tacked on another run on the board after doubling to left field and being scored on an RBI single up the middle.
Trailing 3-0, the Irish would close the gap in the top of the sixth. TJ Williams led off with a single first base and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Baumgardt drove in WIlliams with an RBI single and was able to advance to second on the throw to home. Hincks followed with an RBI single up the middle to score Baumgardt and bring the Irish within one.
Recording three base hits and two runs in the bottom frame of the sixth, the Tar Heels extended their lead back to three at 5-2. They followed with a solo home run in the seventh, making it 6-2 heading into the eighth inning.
Jack Penney would record his first hit of the day in the eighth, but the Irish remained scoreless in the frame.
UNC tripled to lead off the bottom of the eighth and scored on a sac fly to make it 7-2 heading into the final frame. Brady Gumpf and Joey Spence each recorded base hits in the ninth, but the Tar Heels would go on to take game two of the series.
Radel (2-2) finished the day throwing 4.2 innings, striking out six batters, and gave up four hits and three runs. He was relieved by Caden Spivey, who finished with 1.2 innings pitched, two strikeouts, five hits, and three runs. Sammy Cooper pitched the final 1.2 innings, recording one strikeout and giving up two hits and one run.
The Irish and Tar Heels face each other in game three tomorrow at 1 p.m.