Box Score | Bracket | ACC Championship Photos
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Fourth-seeded Notre Dame pieced together a solid pitching performance from starter Liam Simon and four relievers to blank fifth-seed Virginia, 3-0, in the opening game of Friday’s Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship session at Trust Field.
The Fighting Irish (35-13), who were already assured of a spot in the tournament semifinals regardless of Friday’s outcome, closed out pool play with a 2-0 record. Notre Dame will now play in Saturday’s 1 p.m. semifinal against the winner of tonight’s 7 p.m. game between top-seeded Virginia Tech (41-11) and No. 8 seed North Carolina (35-19).
Virginia (38-17) wrapped up ACC Championship competition and will await the announcement of the NCAA tournament bracket on Monday (Noon, ESPN2).
Simon (2-0) went a career-high five innings and allowed just two hits while matching his career high with eight strikeouts and walking just two batters. Simon teamed with Roman Kimball, Matt Bedford, Sammy Cooper and Aidan Tyrell on a five-hitter. The Irish fivesome combined to strike out 11 Cavalier batters while walking four.
Zack Prajzner drove in two of Notre Dame’s three runs with a second-inning RBI single and a sixth-inning sacrifice fly. Both plated David LaManna, who had two of the Irish’s eight hits. Jack Penney also collected two hits, including an RBI double in the fourth.
Alex Tappen went 3-for-4 at the plate for Virginia, but timely hitting proved an issue for the Cavaliers.
Trailing 3-0 in the top of the eighth, Virginia loaded the bases with two outs, prompting Notre Dame coach Link Jarrett to summon righthander Sammy Cooper from the bullpen.
Cooper, who had pitched five total innings during the regular season, fell behind 3-0 to Devin Ortiz but battled back to coax Virginia’s No. 5 hitter into a groundout to second base for the final out of the half-inning.
Tyrell then came on to work a perfect ninth inning that include a pair of strikeouts to earn his first save of the season.
Nate Savino (5-6) started on the mound for the Cavaliers and took the loss. He allowed two runs on one hit while walking one batter and striking out five in 4.2 innings.
2022 ACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
May 24-29 at Truist Field, Charlotte, N.C.
POOL A – #1 Virginia Tech, #8 North Carolina, #12 Clemson
POOL B – #2 Louisville, #7 Georgia Tech, #11 Pitt
POOL C – #3 Miami, #6 Wake Forest, #10 NC State
POOL D – #4 Notre Dame, #5 Virginia, #9 Florida State
Tuesday, May 24
No. 11 Pitt 12, No. 7 Georgia Tech 6
No. 10 NC State 11, No. 6 Wake Forest 8
No. 8 North Carolina 9, No. 12 Clemson 2
Wednesday, May 25
No. 11 Pitt 6, No. 2 Louisville 5
No. 9 Florida State 13, No. 5 Virginia 3 (8 innings)
No. 10 NC State 9, Miami 6
Thursday, May 26
No. 7 Georgia Tech 9, No. 2 Louisville 4
No. 4 Notre Dame 5, No. 9 Florida State 3
No. 1 Virginia Tech 18, No. 12 Clemson 6
Friday, May 27
No. 4 Notre Dame 3, No. 5 Virginia 0
No. 6 Wake Forest vs. No. 3 Miami, 3 p.m. (RSN/ACCN Extra)
No. 8 North Carolina vs. No. 1 Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. (RSN/ACCN Extra)
Saturday, May 28
Pool A Winner vs. No. 5 Notre Dame, 1 p.m. (ACCN/ACCN Extra)
No. 11 Pitt vs. No. 10 NC State, 5 p.m. (ACCN/ACCN Extra)
Sunday, May 29
ACC Championship, Noon (ESPN2/ACCN Extra)