Virginia powers past Notre Dame 20-5 in run-rule win
WVEC-TV No. 13 Virginia defeated Notre Dame 20-5 in eight innings Sunday, April 12, at Frank Eck Stadium, using a powerful offensive performance to secure the series. Virginia (26-11, 10-8 ACC) scored in every inning and hit six home runs.
The top four hitters in the lineup each homered in the win. Lucas Hartman earned the victory in relief, improving to a team-best eight wins on the season. Eric Becker, AJ Gracia, Joe Tiroly and Harrison Didawick combined to go 12-for-19 with five home runs, two doubles and 16 RBIs.
Virginia opened the scoring in the first inning when Tiroly doubled to left-center field, driving in Becker. Notre Dame (16-15, 7-11 ACC) responded in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Gracia put Virginia back in front in the second inning with a three-run home run to center field, his 10th of the season, giving the Cavaliers a 4-1 lead.
Tiroly added a solo home run in the third inning, his sixth of the season, extending the lead to 5-1. Notre Dame cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run by Jayce Lee. Virginia broke the game open in the fourth inning, scoring four runs.
Didawick highlighted the inning with a two-run home run to right field, his third of the weekend and fifth of the season. Both teams scored in the fifth inning, maintaining Virginia’s five-run lead at 10-5. Jake Weatherspoon drove in another run for Virginia with an RBI single in the sixth inning.