by Claire DeMeo ’24
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame (22-20, 7-17 ACC) defeated Wake Forest (27-16, 12-12 ACC) 8-7 on a walk-off homer by OF TJ Williams. The Irish recorded back-to-back wins to clinch the three-game series against the eighth-ranked Demon Deacons.
The victory marked the first series win for Notre Dame against a top-10 team since April 21-23, 2023 vs. No. 8 Virginia.
Three Irish batters went deep in another multi-homer performance Sunday – C Joey Spence in the second, INF Simon Baumgardt to tie the game in the eighth, and Williams to secure the win.
There was no shortage of spectacular grabs to notch a few crucial outs on defense, notably by INF Estevan Moreno crossing the field to snatch a would-be foul ball, and an off-balance tag by RHP Ricky Reeth. INF Jack Penney snagged a high liner and dished to INF Connor Hincks for a double play, adding to Notre Dame’s season total of 39.
RHP Rory Fox started off strong, holding Wake Forest to three runs through four and two-thirds innings. RHP Nate Hardman (2-1) earned the win, giving up only two hits and no earned runs.
On the weekend vs. Wake Forest, Penney slashed a remarkable .444/.615/.667 and Baumgardt drove in six RBI over the weekend series.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was another fast start for the Irish, as the defense held Wake Forest to a three up, three down in the top of the first, with Fox dealing a strikeout. Leading off, Williams earned a walk. OF David Glancy was then hit by pitch, and Penney bunted to load the bases. Williams then scored on a Moreno sacrifice fly. Hincks forced a fielding error, and Glancy tacked on another run, making the game 2-0.
In the second, Glancy snagged two-consecutive deep balls to retire the first two Wake Forest batters. After notching a double, the Demon Deacons homered to tie the game at 2-2. Leading off for the Irish in the bottom half, Spence ripped a 467-foot homer into right center to retake the lead, 3-2.
Back on defense in the third, Moreno made a stunning sliding grab all the way from second base to right field foul territory for an out. A popup and another strikeout for Fox sat the next two batters. Penney and Moreno drew walks to lead off the top of the third, ending Wake Forest’s starting pitcher’s day. Both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Baumgardt drew another walk to load the bases, then OF Tito Flores also earned himself a walk to bring Penney home. A successful pickoff attempt for the Demon Deacons and a subsequent groundout sent the game to the fourth with Notre Dame leading 4-2.
Wake Forest led off the fourth with a homer, narrowing the Irish lead to 4-3. The Demon Deacons added another hit in the fourth, but were unable to score again in the inning. Notre Dame was held to their first three up, three down of the game.
After a leadoff single in the fifth, the Irish forced two quick outs before ceding an intentional walk. RHP Ricky Reeth took the mound for Fox. The Wake runners advanced to scoring position on a passed ball and another walk loaded the bases, but a groundout kept Wake Forest off the board in the fifth. A Penney single got the Irish rolling in the top of the fifth, and Moreno was hit by a pitch. After a groundout on an interference call against the Irish, both runners advanced on a wild pitch. A balk scored Penney, and a sacrifice fly by Baumgardt brought Moreno home, extending the Irish lead to 6-3.
Leading off in the top of the sixth, Hincks made a quick grab and Reeth made an impressive falling tag on first base to secure the first out. The Irish forced two more groundouts to sit the order. PH Brady Gumpf singled to lead off, but was left on base in the inning.
Reeth began the seventh with a quick strikeout. The next Wake batter was hit by a pitch, then a groundout advanced him to second. Another hit by pitch and two singles added two for the Demon Deacons, bringing the score to 6-5. RHP Tobey McDonough took the mound for Reeth and immediately delivered his first strikeout to send the seventh to the bottom. The Irish were unable to respond at the plate.
Wake Forest led off the eighth with a double and an out, the runner taking third on a fielder’s choice. RHP Bennett Flynn came into the game for McDonough. After a walk, RHP Nate Hardman took the mound for Flynn with the bases loaded. After a popup for the second out, the Demon Deacons doubled down the right field line, scoring two to go up 7-6. Flynn dealt a strikeout in response to get the Irish out of the inning.
Baumgardt wasted no time getting the Irish back, sending a bomb to left field to knot the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth.
After giving up a leadoff single, the Irish turned two on a double play from Penney to Hincks. After a walk, a flyout took care of business for the Irish defense.
Williams, closing the series in the same fashion he began the Irish’s first win of the series, smashed a lead off solo homer on the first pitch to seal a thrilling victory for the Irish, 8-7.
UP NEXT
Notre Dame travels to East Lansing, Mich. to face Michigan State on Tuesday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on B1G+.
The Irish then return home for a three-game weekend series against Pittsburgh, starting Friday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET.