Box Score
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – An RBI single by
TJ Lett in the top of the ninth inning pushed the Notre Dame Falcons over the No. 22 Indianapolis Greyhounds, for a 12-11 victory, in a high scoring opener, on Friday afternoon.
For the Falcons (1-0), the victory is their first season opening win since the 2012 season. The Greyhounds (2-2), who went 38-21 last season and participated in the Division II Midwest Regional, fall in a home opener for the first time since 2014.
The top of the second inning looked good for the Falcons, from the beginning.
Zach Santoro led off with a double and would move to third on a wild pitch by the Greyhounds' starter, Brian Wichman. After
Angelo Tornatore and
Nate Rearick walked to load the bases,
Ricky Phillips hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Santoro. This gave NDC their first lead of 2017.
The lead was short lived as the UIndy was able to put a run on the board in the bottom of the second. A walk and a single to begin the bottom half of the inning, set up a run as Jake Perreira scored on a wild pitch by the Falcons' starting pitcher,
Josh Armbruster.
The game started to get crazy when both teams scored five runs in the fourth inning, which also included a combined three pitching changes.
In the top of the fourth, the Falcons were able to get hits from Tornatore, Lett and
Austin Barnhart. Lett's single came with bases loaded and scored two while Barnhart's single drove in another run. The other two NDC runs came on an error by the Greyhounds' shortstop, Blake Richardson, and a passed ball.
In the home half of the inning, back-to-back doubles by Storm Joop and Richardson scored three runs.
Carter Daniels then replaced Armbruster and gave up a two-run homer to Kyle Orloff, tying the game at six.
The Falcons went back to work offensively and put up four runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Danny Beaver singled to right field, scoring Lett. Later in the inning, Tornatore hit a single that scored Beaver from second and Santoro scored from first base on an error by center fielder Devon Hensley.
Matt Seekins then singled, scoring Tornatore.
Lett hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning, putting NDC up 11-6. However, UIndy did not go down quietly. The Greyhounds scored a run as Richardson was hit by a pitch with bases loaded. Orloff then hit an RBI single and John Eberhardt knocked in two runs with a single.
Hensley singled for Indianapolis in the bottom of the eighth inning and he would attempt to steal second base. The throw got away from the Falcons and Hensley was able to reach home plate, tying the game at 11.
In the top of the ninth inning, Phillips singled and then stole second on the new pitcher, Dylan Stutsman. Lett came through, again, with an RBI single to right field, the eventual winning run.
Lett went 4-6 with four RBI for NDC. Santoro and Tornatore both had two hits. Armbruster went 3.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned runs, on four hits. Daniels went three innings, allowing four runs. Pierson (1-0) got the win as he went 2.2 innings, striking out three batters.
For UIndy, Orloff had four hits and three RBI. Eberhardt and Hensley had two hits, while Richardson had three RBI. The Greyhounds used seven pitchers. Their starting pitcher, Wichman, went 3.1 innings, walking four and allowing three runs. Chris Boettcher (0-1) picked up the loss as he tossed 1.1 innings, allowing a run.
The Falcons will continue their series with the University of Indianapolis, on the road, Feb. 18. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
