With conference play beginning this week on March 7, Notre Dame went 3-0 against Belmont, winning 12-8 on Friday, Feb. 28, 2-1 on Saturday, March 1 and 6-2 on Sunday, March 2.
The Irish began the series in a high-scoring affair but prevailed 12-8. In the first inning, freshman designated hitter Bino Watters doubled to left field to open the game. Two batters later, sophomore catcher Carson Tinney launched a home run out of E.S. Rose Park to give the Irish their first lead of the game at 2-0. Belmont was quick to respond in the bottom of the second with a two-run home run left, and the game was tied at 2-2.
Notre Dame had no problem breaking the tie as it quickly got into the top part of the batting order again. Junior shortstop Estevan Moreno hit a sacrifice fly that allowed senior outfielder DM Jefferson to score to make it 3-2. This was the first of three runs scored for the Irish as Tinney hit another single that scored graduate outfielder Jared Zimbardo to make it 4-2. Finally, freshman infielder Parker Brzustewicz hit another single that notched an RBI, scoring Bino Watters to make it 5-2.
Belmont had a ground-rule double in the bottom of the third to get a run on the scoreboard, but graduate right-hander Dylan Heine calmly retired the next two batters for the Bruins to prevent any more scoring opportunities. Jefferson led the Irish hitting off with a walk, and Watters drove a double off the wall and scored him. Tinney walked and Brzustewicz was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Graduate infielder Connor Hincks stepped up to the plate to launch a grand slam and stretch the Irish lead to 10-3. This was the graduate student’s second home run of the season, matching Tinney’s two to lead the Irish. Next, senior infielder Nick DeMarco hit his first home run to make it back-to-back home runs for the Irish and extend the lead out to 11-3 in the fourth inning.
The Bruins were not done fighting as Wyatt Fooks hit a two-run homer for Belmont in the bottom of the fourth to make it 11-5. Heine on the mound allowed five runs total but also had five strikeouts. The Bruins continued to inch closer with another home run in the eighth inning that drove in an additional runner. However, freshman right-hander Chase Van Ameyde came in for the ninth inning to get the save for the Irish, striking out three hitters and getting his first official save of the season. The Irish finished the game 12-8 and won the first game of the series.
The game on Saturday was a completely different scoring affair with only three runs total, but a career day from Davis Johnson propelled Notre Dame to the 2-1 victory. The sophomore catcher’s first home run accompanied by graduate starting pitcher Jackson Dennies allowing one run helped lead the Irish past the Bruins.
In the bottom of the second, Belmont hit a triple and scored off of a sacrifice fly to take the lead 1-0. The Irish found a way to break through in the fifth inning as Johnson hit a single. Johnson finished the day 3 for 4 with his first home run of the season and was responsible for both of the runs scored throughout the contest. After Johnson’s hit, Belmont walked on four consecutive batters and tied the contest at 1-1.
In the sixth inning, Johnson hit the first home run of his career on a solo bomb to right field that gave the Irish the lead they would need for the rest of the day. The Irish had runners on first and third after DeMarco was hit by a pitch and Watters drew a walk, but they were unable to add anything extra. Dennies closed out his time on the mound with two strikeouts and finished the game with eight strikeouts through six innings. Matching his career best with 6.1 innings, Dennies was credited with the win. Graduate right-hander Tobey McDonough finished things up on the mound for the Irish to earn his third save of the season, allowing only one hit and striking out two batters.
The Irish finished the series on Sunday with another win to completely sweep the Bruins. Senior captain Brady Gumpf’s three-run homer in the eighth inning helped the Irish prevail 6-2.
Belmont scored the first run of the game on an unearned run in the bottom of the third. Brzustewicz led off the Irish batting order in the fourth with a leadoff walk, then Bino Watters calmly hit a single to put runners at first and third. The Irish stranded these runners on base with a fly out that was not deep enough for Brzustewicz at third to tag up. The Bruins double-played the Irish runners and retired the inning still in front 1-0.
Junior Irish starter Rory Fox pitched masterfully, earning his eighth strikeout in the fifth inning. Sophomore right-hander DJ Helwig came in to relieve Fox and closed out the fifth inning without any more damage. Finally, in the seventh inning, the Irish found a path through the pitching of Belmont. Hincks hit a crucial two-out single in the top of the seventh. Freshman outfielder Jayce Lee followed with a first-pitch double into right-center that scored freshman infielder Noah Coy pinch-running for Hincks. Helwig continued to hold the Bruins scoreless on the other end, and things were all even to enter the eighth inning.
The Irish continued the previous momentum as Watters was walked with one out and Carson Tinney was hit by a pitch. Gumpf stepped into the batter’s box to pinch hit for Notre Dame, and the captain hit a 3-2 fastball over right field to break the game open for Notre Dame at 4-1. Gumpf’s first home run was timely and critical for the Irish. Belmont fought back to bring the game to 4-2, but Notre Dame continued the scoring in the ninth off of a groundout from Watters driving in Jefferson and a single from Tinney to score Brzustewicz. Notre Dame held on to the 6-2 lead and completed the sweep against the Belmont Bruins. Helwig earned the win for the Irish with 4.1 innings in relief from the bump and earned his career high in strikeouts with four.
Next, the Irish host Eastern Michigan in their home opener at 4:30 p.m. on March 5, looking to build on their 8-1 start before ACC play begins.
