Box Score (PDF)
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Notre Dame baseball team fell in a 15-1 contest at Miami on Friday night to set up a Saturday rubber match against the Hurricanes.
DM Jefferson led off the game with a single and moved into scoring position with a stolen base, but the Irish came up empty-handed. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, plated four runs in the bottom half of the first to snag the lead early. Miami plated nine in the bottom of the second for a 13-0 advantage through two.
Xavier Hirsch retired the side in order in the bottom of the third. Miami, however, added a run in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead. The Irish defense forced the Hurricanes into stranding bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth as Jack Walker got a ground out to Connor Hincks to end the inning.
Davis Johnson put the Irish into the scoring column with a solo home run in the top of the sixth. Miami added a run in the bottom half of the inning and went on to take the 15-1 decision in seven innings.
Rory Fox shouldered the loss on the mound while Sammy Cooper, Justin Mayes Jr., Xavier Hirsch, Jack Walker, Clark Gilmore, and Keenan Mork all made an appearance in the game. Walker and Mork each recorded a pair of strikeouts and did not surrender a run.
Davis Johnson belted a solo home run for the Irish. DM Jefferson and Brady Gumpf each added a hit on the night.
The Irish now look to take the series in the rubber match on Saturday. The game begins at 1:00 p.m. at the University of Miami’s Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.