NOTRE DAME, IND. – The Fighting Irish broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out eighth inning run and Kent State wasted a dream ninth inning situation as Notre Dame escaped this brief two-game midweek series with a 2-1 win.
In the eighth inning with a runner on second and two outs, KSU reliever John Matthews tossed a two-strike breaking ball to ND's Alex Kerschner. The pitch appeared to stick the outside corner, but it was called it ball two. Two pitches later the senior catcher blistered a single into left field to give the Irish a 2-1 lead.