Game Thread | (G2) Notre Dame vs. No. 1 Tennessee

Notre Dame (39-14) vs. No. 1 Tennessee (56-8) 

When: June 11

Time: 2:00 PM ET 

Where: Lindsey Nelson Stadium | Knoxville, Tenn. 

Watch: ESPN 

QUICK FACTS

(Entering the weekend)

- Notre Dame is 50-20 (.714) away from Frank Eck Stadium under head coach Link Jarrett. In 2022, the Irish are 10-8 in true road games and 11-3 in neutral site games.

- The Irish are 83-29 (.741) since the start of the 2020 season. That winning percentage ranks second in the NCAA over the past three seasons, trailing only Tennessee.

- Notre Dame is 14th in the NCAA and first in the ACC in fielding percentage with a .980 mark this season. The Irish have committed 39 errors in 1,394 putout opportunities this season.

- The Irish rank seventh nationally and are first in the ACC in team ERA with 3.82. They have given up 197 earned runs in 464.2 innings this season.

- Notre Dame is 10th in the NCAA and first in the ACC with a 1.27 WHIP this season. They have surrendered 393 hits and 197 walks in 464.2 innings pitched.

- The Irish rank fourth in the NCAA and first in the ACC in strikeouts per nine innings with 11.0. The Irish pitching staff has struck out 569 batters in 464.2 innings this season.

- Notre Dame is 27-0 this season and 53-2 overall under Jarrett in games they allow three runs or less.

- The Irish allowed just seven runs in the three games at the Statesboro Regional.  It was the second fewest runs scored in the Regional Round behind Texas (6).

- Tennessee is 37-3 in games at home this season. 

- The Volunteers bring one of the top offenses in the country into the weekend as they lead the NCAA in home runs (150), runs (592) and slugging percentage (.607). Tennessee also leads the nation in ERA (2.38), hits allowed per nine innings (6.34) and WHIP (0.980).

- The Irish also have one of the best pitching staffs in the country heading into the weekend. They rank fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.0), seventh in ERA (3.72) and hits allowed per nine innings (7.61) and 10th in WHIP (1.27).

- This will be the second time in program history that the Irish will face the No. 1 overall seed in the Super Regionals. Back in 2002, Notre Dame traveled to Tallahassee to face the top-ranked Seminoles in the supers. The Irish won the first and third game to advance to the College World Series for the second time in program history.

PROBABLE STARTERS
 

WHAT TO WATCH 

- Game 1 went to the Irish and it was due to the long ball as Notre Dame hit four home runs on Friday night in Tennessee’s small park. Carter Putz started off the game with a two-run homer in the first inning and Jack Brannigan finished it with a three-run shot in the 5th to put the Irish up 8-1. 

- Notre Dame moved runners and were ultra-aggressive on the bases all night and it seems like you should expect that in Game 2. If there is a base to take, Notre Dame is going to go for it. There were a few mental lapses on the basepaths, but overall, it seems Link Jarrett knows they have to push to make sure runners get into scoring position. 

- The Vols will roll out Chase Dollander, who has yet to lose a game this season. The sophomore righty has recorded double-digit strikeouts five times this season, but April 9th was his 10+ strikeout game. 

- Last weekend against Campbell, Dollander last 2.2 innings after giving up six hits, four runs (2 ER) and two walks. Notre Dame will need to continue its aggressive approach at the plate and focus on contact as they can't afford to go down by strikeouts.

- Tennessee star centerfielder Drew Gilbert was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, which will lead to him missing Saturday’s game. The Vols pitching coach, Frank Anderson, also will miss the next three games for his childish actions following Gilbert’s ejection. 

Notre Dame Lineup

Tennessee Lineup

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Engraved Shamrock Stemless Wine Glasses