By: Jacob Thimjon
OMAHA, Neb.- It didn’t take long for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to start with some early fireworks to propel the Fighting Irish to a 7-3 win in Game Two of the Men’s College World Series.
Just two batters into the game, team captain and senior second baseman Jared Miller hit a solo home run in his first at-bat since May 14 since dislocating his right shoulder, giving Notre Dame an early 1-0 lead.
“It was huge for the team.” Notre Dame Head Coach Link Jarrett said. “I think that kind of sent a message to our team that Miller he’s back.”
Notre Dame added a run in the top of the 3rd when senior left fielder Ryan Cole scored on a fielder’s choice. Texas added a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning when sophomore outfielder Dylan Campbell scored on a sacrifice bunt from Texas left fielder Eric Kennedy to cut the deficit to 2-1 going to the top of the fourth inning.
Fighting Irish third baseman Jack Brannigan led off the next half-inning with an infield single, and a single by Notre Dame right fielder Brooks Coetzee advanced Brannigan to third base. Brannigan scored from third base after a sacrifice bunt by Notre Dame center fielder Spencer Myers. Brannigan was initially called out at the plate, but the call was overturned to safe after Notre Dame challenged the play at home plate, the Fighting Irish lead 3-1.
Notre Dame added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI single into the center field from Notre Dame shortstop Zach Pajzner. Brannigan then scored from third after a balk from Texas right-handed pitcher Tristan Stevens. An RBI single by Myers scored Pajzner to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 6-1.
Texas responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth when Texas center fielder Douglas Hodo III delivered an RBI single to left field that scored Campbell. The Longhorns added their final run of the game when senior second baseman Murphy Stehly scored on a wild pitch from third off of Notre Dame reliever Alex Rao to make the Notre Dame lead 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Starting pitcher, John Michael Bertrand finished the game pitching 5 ⅓ innings allowing six hits, three earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts.
Bertrand said his key to success against the Longhorns lineup was “confidence through preparation.”
“There’s a distinct difference in their approaches with two strikes,” Bertrand said, “I was able to go fastball to both sides of the plate, the cutter into the righties; just getting back to the basics and execute; one pitch at a time.”
The Irish added a final insurance run in the top of the ninth when first baseman Carter Putz hit a 394-foot solo home run to right-center field to extend Notre Dame’s lead to 7-3.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Jack Findlay pitched a one-two-three inning to seal the win in Game Two for the Fighting Irish.
“It was almost as relaxed as I’ve been coaching a game,” Jarrett said, “the game played out like we were hoping.”
The Longhorns, meanwhile, will look to regroup to avoid elimination.
“Tomorrow’s a new day. We’ve been in this situation in the past, move on and get back to work.” Stevens said.
The Longhorns (47-21) will face the Texas A&M Aggies (42-19) in an elimination game on Sunday at 1 p.m, while Notre Dame (40-16) will play Oklahoma (43-22) on Sunday at 6 p.m; at Charles
