Game Thread | Miami at Notre Dame

Miami (12-8, 4-2) at Notre Dame (12-8, 0-6) 

When: March 22

Time: 3:30 PM ET 

Where: Frank Eck Stadium | South Bend, Ind. 

Watch: ACC Network Extra (ESPN+)

QUICK FACTS

- Miami leads the all-time series 23-8

- The Canes won the last series in 2022 2-1 in Coral Gables 

- Entering the series, Notre Dame ranks No. 4 in the ACC and No. 10 nationally with 43 home runs entering the weekend. Miami is No. 5 in the ACC and No. 11 in the same category. 

- Notre Dame’s .981 fielding percentage ranks No. 15 nationally. 

PROBABLE STARTERS

FRIDAY 

WHAT TO WATCH

If you’re a fan of offense, this might be the series to watch as both teams are looking for consistency on the bump. Notre Dame’s pitching staff enters the weekend with an ERA of 6.80, while the Hurricanes sit at 5.66. Miami’s opponents bat .272 and the Irish are actually worse at .273, so there is a high chance for runs galore, especially if the South Bend wind is friendly. 

Notre Dame did find some momentum on the mound last weekend in relief roles, including David Lally Jr. having a couple of strong performances. The Irish need to find a way to get off to better starts, as they’ve allowed first-inning runs in five of six ACC contests. It’s a tough hill to climb in any game much less the ACC, so that’s perhaps the biggest key of the weekend. 

RHP Matt Bedford and RHP Jack Radel had solid outings against Florida State, so if they build on their momentum, it could be a tipping point. 

The Irish did a pretty fair job last weekend against Florida State’s Cam Smith, but they’ll have to have a similar performance against Jason Torres and Daniel Cuvet. The Miami duo has combined for 17 home runs and 51 RBI through two games. Torres will enter the series batting .457 and Cuvet sits at .407. 

At the plate, Notre Dame needs to step up here as well. The offense has won shootouts, which has been a positive, but there needs to be more consistency and maturity at the plate. Notre Dame needs to continue getting deeper in counts and being picky. Now, that’s not to say they can’t be aggressive, but Notre Dame has been in too many 0-2 counts this season, which has led to 182 strikeouts. 

The Irish also need David Glancy and Tito Flores to start to turn the corner. Both are hitting around .250 and that needs to come up. Neither has been bad, but if Notre Dame is going to turn this season around, both players and Jack Penney need to start to raise their level of play. 

I like the Irish to hit 10 home runs this weekend and get the first ACC series win of the year as temperatures will be in the 40s all three days.

NOTRE DAME LINEUP

MIAMI LINEUP

OFFENSIVE STATS 

PITCHING STATS 

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