Game Thread | (G2) Notre Dame at UNC Greensboro

Notre Dame (2-2) at UNC Greensboro (1-4) 

When: Feb. 25th

Time: 4:30 PM ET 

Where: UNCG Baseball Stadium | Greensboro, N.C.

Watch: ESPN+

QUICK FACTS

- Notre Dame won the opening game of the series 6-5 on Friday evening. 

- Sophomore LHP Jack Findlay got his first win of 2023 as he went 3.1 innings and gave up three hits, one run while striking out five on just 47 pitches. 

- The Irish recorded 10 hits during Friday’s win, which was the same amount Notre Dame totaled a week ago in the three-game series at Lipscomb. 

- Seven Irish batters recorded hits on Friday. Carter Putz led the way going 3-for-4 from the plate.

- Junior RHP Jackson Dennies recorded a career-high five strikeouts in three innings last Sunday.

PROBABLE STARTERS

Saturday 

WHAT TO WATCH 

- Notre Dame’s offense came out on a mission on Friday as the Irish recorded four hits in the opening frame and scored four runs. Centerfielder TJ Williams was moved up from the 9-hole to lead-off and while he didn’t record a hit, the junior still scored a run and gives Notre Dame speed on the bases. 

- Zack Prajzner was bumped to second in the lineup on Friday. He responded by going 2-of-2 with two walks and Prajzner was also hit by a pitch. 

- Consistent at-bats will now be the focus after getting guys on the bases. Notre Dame recorded 10 hits, but left 13 runners on base during the win, which allowed UNCG a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth. Three of those runners were left in scoring position and for a team finding itself at the plate, it’s important Notre Dame gets those runs in moving forward. 

- It’s never easy getting youth experience while also trying to win games. Freshman 2B Estevan Moreno has been thrown to the wolves as he’s started three of the first four games. Moreno is 0-for-9 at the plate, but he almost homered on Friday and has made a few impressive plays in the field. The growing pains will be worth it as once Moreno gets comfortable, it’s likely going to be a situation where opponents will feel him for the next three years. 

- Notre Dame’s pitchers were up and down, but got out of high-pressure situations for the most part on Friday. UNCG had the bases loaded three times and scored zero runs. The Spartans also left eight runners on base. The Irish defense allowed four runs with two outs in the opening game, which will likely be an area of focus for Shawn Stiffler heading into Saturday. 

- UNCG also went just 5-for-22 against left-handed pitching. The Irish don’t have a ton of lefties in the pen, but expect LHP Will Mercer (ERA 0.00) to be ready to go on Saturday. Mercer went 2.0 innings and gave up just one hit and struck out four last weekend. 

- Opponents are batting just .186 against Notre Dame’s pitchers and the Irish have a respectable team ERA of 4.24 entering game five. 

UNCG Lineup

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