Purdue Fort Wayne
Notre Dame
Mastodons Fall To Notre Dame, 3-2
4/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 10, 2007
South Bend, IN - IPFW out-hit the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, on Tuesday night at Frank Eck Stadium, but the Mastodons also left nine runners on base in a 3-2 loss.
IPFW starter Stacy Herrold didn't surrender a hit until the 5th inning, but the Irish got an unearned run in the second.
ND designated hitter Matt Weglarz opened the inning with a walk. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and throwing error. He later scored on an infield ground out by first baseman Mike Dury.
IPFW tied the game at one in the 5th inning. Freshman Brett Merkley, getting his first start at third base, singled to lead off the frame. Junior first baseman Nick Millspaugh followed with a walk. Both moved up 90-feet on a passed ball. Sophomore catcher Adam Miller then ripped a hot-shot to first base that Dury couldn't handle, allowing Merkley to scamper home.
Notre Dame got that run back and added another in the bottom of the fifth. Herrold surrendered his first hit of the game on a single up the middle by Irish third baseman Jeremy Barnes. Dury followed that up with a drive to the warning track in left center, good enough for a double and his second RBI of the game, making it 2-1 Fighting Irish.
Dury would come around to score on an RBI single by right fielder Michael Wright.
IPFW tried on a number of occasions to cut into the 3-1 lead, but couldn't push another run across until the top of the ninth.
Pinch hitter Aaron Kerns walked, advanced to second on a balk by Irish reliever Tony Langford, moved to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on another wild pitch.
Langford regrouped and got Quentin Brown looking to end the ballgame.
It was the second year in-a-row that IPFW dropped a one-run heartbreaker to the Fighting Irish. The 'Dons fell 4-3 in 10 innings last season at Eck Stadium.
Even though he pitched well, Herrold took the loss. He gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits. He struck out one and walked three in four and a third innings.
Notre Dame reliever Brett Graffy got the win. He came on to replace starter Sam Elam in the 5th inning. He tossed two complete, giving up a run on one hit. He also walked three and struck out one.
Langford earned the save. It was the second of his career. He missed the entire 2006 season after undergoing elbow surgery.
With the win, ND improves to 15-16 while the Mastodons fall to 4-24.
IPFW will play their 28th road game of the season on Wednesday at Ball State. First pitch is slated for 3pm.
~Dons~
