Redshirt sophomore Davis Sharpe started his third series-opening game of the season for the Tigers The Dacula, Ga. native has solidified his spot as the Tigers’ ace heading into ACC play.
While Sharpe did allow two runners to start the game, he escaped the inning unscathed.
The Tigers went down similarly, not picking up hits in the bottom of the first.
Sharpe proved why he is the Tigers’ Friday night starter in the second inning, inducing two fly outs before catching a break when shortstop James Parker made a diving play on a ground ball destined for center field and threw the runner out at first base to end the inning.
Despite designated hitter Regan Reid knocking a one-out base hit into left field in the bottom of the second, the three other Tigers who came to the plate did not reach base, leaving Reid stranded at second base when the inning ended.
Back on the mound for the third inning, Sharpe collected a quick two outs before Fighting Irish designated hitter Carter Putz singled into right field. The single is an example of a larger problem the Tigers have had to this point in the season, allowing two out base runners, which extend innings and force pitchers to throw more pitches. Sharpe recovered by forcing the next batter to ground out to Tigers’ first baseman Caden Grice, who made the play at first unassisted.
Grice hit first in the bottom of the third. The left handed hitter singled into left field for the Tigers’ second hit of the game. Center fielder Bryce Teodosio scored Grice two pitches later when he hit his first home run of the season to center field. The Tigers took their first lead of the series, 2-0.
Leadoff hitter Elijah Henderson continued his hitting struggles when he flew out to the left fielder for the Tigers’ first out of the inning. Dylan Brewer barely connected with the 3-1 pitch, but popped the ball just high enough for Notre Dame catcher David LaManna to camp under for the second out of the inning. Kier Meredith hit a ball that took a big hop over the Fighting Irish first baseman, but James Parker’s line out to center field ended the inning.
Sharpe walked the first batter in the fourth inning on a 3-1 count, but bounced back and retired the next three batters in order, leaving the runner stranded on second base.
Reid walked on four pitches to start the Tigers half of the fourth. But Wagner and French struck out giving the Tigers a runner on second with two outs. Notre Dame pitcher Tommy Sheehan issued Grice a free pass to put runners on first and second, but rebounded by making Teodosio fly out to center field.
Notre Dame shortstop Zack Prajzner started the fifth inning at the plate for Irish and ripped a double just fair down the line in left field. Sharpe recovered on the next batter, diving for a pop up between the mound and home plate to record the first out of the inning. However, with the top of the order up, Sharpe did not look as good on the mound. A single put runners on first and third. The right hander followed that at-bat up with two consecutive walks, allowing the first Irish run of the game to cross the plate. Notre Dame first baseman Niko Kavadas hit a deep sacrifice fly into left field that scored the team’s second run of the inning, tying the game at 2-2. Sharpe issued another free pass before retiring the side with a pop up into foul territory in right field.
Sheehan hit Henderson to start the bottom of the fifth and the Tigers were off to the races. After advancing on a wild pitch, Henderson scored off Brewer’s RBI single into center field.Right handed pitcher Dominic Cancellieri came to the mound to relieve Sheehan of his duties. James Parker scored Brewer when he hit a flare single into center field, just over the head of the second baseman. A Regan Reid sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out.
However, Max Wagner did not care where the runners were when he lifted a ball just over the outstretched glove of Alex Brait at the left field wall, scoring himself and both runners on base, increasing the Tigers lead to 7-2 with just one out in the inning. The Tigers continued their dominance when two batters after Wagner, Grice lifted his third home run out of the park in right field, scoring himself and catcher Jonathan French. The Tigers lead 9-2 as Henderson came to the plate for the second time in the fifth inning with just one out. Notre Dame again changed pitchers, ending Cancerllieri’s day after recording just one out.
Teodosio broke for second on a 2-2 hit and run, which Henderson swung through for the second out of the inning. Teodosio was called out due to interference, ending the inning, but not before the Tigers reclaimed the lead, striking for seven runs.
Surprisingly Sharpe returned to the mound for the sixth inning. Head coach Monte Lee usually expects about 80 pitches out of Sharpe, who threw 83 through five innings. After retiring the first batter of the inning, Sharpe allowed two hits putting runners on the corners with one out. Despite inducing a ground ball to the next hitter, the Grice did not attempt the inning-ending double play, opting for the out at first, allowing another run to score for the Irish. Assistant coach Andrew See made the trip to the mound to pull Sharpe from the game.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Ammons came on to pitch for the Tigers. Ammons immediately gave up a three-run home run to Notre Dame second baseman Jared Miller, cutting the Tiger lead to three runs. After a single and a walk, See returned to the mound to relieve Ammons of his duties. He did not record an out in the appearance. Right handed pitcher Nick Clayton came on to pitch. Clayton recorded a three pitch strike out on the ninth Notre Dame Batter of the inning to retire the side.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Kier Meredith knocked his second hit of the game, a double into right-center field. James Parker almost scored Meredith with a home run, but the ball was just short of the wall in and right field. Notre Dame right fielder Brooks Coetzee extended his body and caught the wall, slamming into the outfield wall. Coetzee, visibly shaken on the play, required the Notre Dame athletic training staff to take a look at him, but remained in the game. Reid grounded out to the shortstop to end the inning.
Clayton returned to the mound in the seventh inning, picking up his second strike out of the game and allowing a two-out base hit in his first full inning of work.
The Tigers quickly added two runs to their lead when Jonathan French hit his third home run of the year, scoring Max Wagner who walked on four pitches to open the inning. After walking Caden Grice, Tanner Kohlhepp came on to pitch for Notre Dame. Teodosio doubled into left center field. With no outs and two runners in scoring position, Kohlhepp rebounded by striking out the first two hitters in the Tigers’ batter order. But the righty wasn’t out of the woods yet, as red-hot Kier Meredith came to the plate and another hit, this time a two RBI single through the right side of the infield. Meredith ended the inning when he was caught stealing at second base.
Andrew See again made the trip out to the mound after Clayton put runners on the corners to start the eighth inning. Redshirt freshman closer Geoffrey Gilbert came to the mound to finish the inning for the Tigers. Gilbert retired the only three batters he faced in the inning, giving up a long sacrifice fly to Kavadas, allowing the Fighting Irish to score their seventh run of the game.
The first two Tiger hitters reached base on a single and walk respectively, but Kolhlhepp struck out the next two batters, bringing Caden Grice to the plate with two outs. Left handed pitcher Cameron Brown came on to face the left handed Grice. Brown caught Grice looking on a 2-2 pitch, sending the Tigers back to the field for the ninth inning.
Spencer Myers ended the game on an 0-2 check swing strike out. The Tigers defeated the Irish 13-7 in the contest.
The Fighting Irish and Tigers return to the field tomorrow, March 6, at 3 p.m. The Irish look to even the series, while the Tigers are looking to claim their first conference series of the season before heading to Chapel Hill next weekend.
