By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Tech baseball held Notre Dame scoreless through four innings Sunday afternoon, but a pair of late outbursts proved decisive as the Irish pulled away for an 11-0, eight-inning run-rule victory at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Baseball Complex.
The Golden Eagles (6-6) were limited to two hits on the day and did not advance a runner past second base, finishing 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position. Notre Dame improved to 6-3 with the run-rule victory.
Logan Moller gave Tech a strong start, tossing four scoreless innings. The right-hander allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out five, including back-to-back strikeouts in the third inning as part of a 1-2-3 frame. He needed just 50 pitches to navigate his outing.
Tech threatened in the third when Landon Smelser singled to center and moved to second on a wild pitch, but the Irish stranded him there. In the fourth, Jorsixt Jimenez lined a single to right-center before Connor Crowson grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Notre Dame broke through in the fifth after a pitching change. Jayce Lee and Parker Brzustewciz opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and Jamie Zee followed with an RBI single up the middle to plate the game's first run. Carter Casabella (L, 0-1) limited the damage by retiring the next two hitters, keeping the deficit at 1-0.
The Irish added pressure in the sixth with three hits, but came away empty after Coy was caught stealing and Tech worked out of the jam.
The game turned in the seventh. After a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt, a walk set up an RBI single by Coy to make it 2-0. Mark Quatrani added a sacrifice fly before Bino Watters delivered the decisive blow — a three-run homer to left field to cap a five-run inning and push the lead to 6-0.
Notre Dame struck again in the eighth. With two on and two out, Quatrani launched a grand slam to deep left field, extending the margin to 10-0. Watters followed with his second homer of the game, a 407-foot shot, as the Irish scored five runs for the second straight inning.
Quatrani finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs, while Watters drove in four. Lee added four hits as Notre Dame collected 16 total hits, going 5-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Ty Uber (W, 2-0) earned the win for the Irish, allowing two hits over five shutout innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Notre Dame's bullpen combined for three hitless frames to close the contest.
NEXT UP
The Golden Eagles are back in action on Friday, Mar. 6 at Georgia Southern. The first pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT.
