The Notre Dame baseball team lost 11-0 in seven innings to No. 8 Florida State on Friday, April 17, in the first game of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series.
This loss marks a challenging start for the Irish as they face a highly ranked opponent. The result impacts their standing in the conference and puts added pressure on the remaining games of the series.
Florida State took an early lead by scoring two runs in the first inning. Notre Dame pitcher Xavier Hirsch responded by striking out three batters in the second and adding two more strikeouts in the third, keeping Florida State from increasing their lead at that point. However, two unearned runs in the fourth put Florida State ahead 4-0. Hirsch reached a career-high eight strikeouts over five innings before leaving the game.
The Seminoles extended their advantage with seven runs in the sixth inning, bringing their total to eleven. In Notre Dame’s final chance at bat, Brandon Logan hit a double off the left field wall and avoided being tagged at second base with an athletic dive. Parker Brzustewicz recorded his second hit of the game but neither runner was able to score.
Brzustewicz finished with two hits and a walk while Logan went one-for-three with a double. Bino Watters had one hit, drew a walk, and was hit by a pitch during his plate appearances; Drew Berkland also contributed with one hit for Notre Dame.
Hirsch pitched five innings—matching his longest outing—and was credited with eight strikeouts despite taking the loss. Eli Thurmond and Aiden Zerr combined for an inning of relief work on the mound.
Notre Dame now holds an overall record of 17-16 and is 7-12 within ACC play. The team will try to even up its series against Florida State when they return to Dick Howser Stadium for game two scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
