Box Score BOSTON – Northeastern grabbed an early 2-0 lead at Notre Dame, but a trio of errors by the Huskies in the early going proved costly as the Fighting Irish came away with an 8-4 win on Friday night.
Michael Foster (2-for-5, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI) and
Connor Lyons (3-for-5, 2 R, 2B) led NU's offensive efforts as Foster collected a game-high three RBI and Lyons tied for a game-high three hits.
The Huskies seemed poised for a big offensive night after Lyons led off the game with a double and was followed by Foster's RBI double to give Northeastern a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Brad Burcroff's (1-for-4, 3B, RBI) second triple in as many games allowed Foster to score and add to Northeastern's early lead.
The Fighting Irish quickly responded, however, as they claimed a 4-2 advantage in the bottom of the opening frame thanks in part to a pair of Northeastern errors. NU starting pitcher
Nick Berger hit Notre Dame's first batter, Conor Biggio, and Mac Hudgins followed with a single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Following a strikeout of Cavan Biggio, Blaise Lezynski reached base on a fielding error by Burcroff as Conor Biggio scored on the play.
Notre Dame's next batter, Phil Mosey, singled to load the bases. Forrest Johnson followed with an RBI single to even the score, 2-2, and keep the bases loaded. Zak Katsulis flew out to Lyons in centerfield, but the NU senior misplayed the ball after making the grab, which allowed Lezynski and Mosey to score.
The Fighting Irish pushed their lead to 6-2 in the second inning, and again a Husky miscue aided Notre Dame's efforts. Berger retired the first two batters in order, but Hudgins singled up the middle and Cavan Biggio followed with a single through the right side. Lezynski's RBI single made the score 5-2, and as he stole second base NU catcher
Josh Treff committed a throwing error that allowed Biggio to safely scamper home.
"Poor fundamental play in our infield cost us early," said Northeastern head coach Neil McPhee. "We made a late comeback, but the early deficit was too much. On the plus-side, we came away with several extra-base hits."
The Huskies entered the fifth inning trailing 8-2, but they showed signs of life after
Mike Piscopo (1-for-4, R) hit a one-out single and Lyons followed with a single of his own. Foster followed with a double that cleared the bases and cut NU's deficit in half, 8-4.
Northeastern relievers
Isaac Lippert (four innings) and
Mike Driscoll (one inning) combined to hold the Fighting Irish to just one run through the game's final five innings, which set up a dramatic finish in the ninth inning.
The Huskies loaded the bases after
Pat Madigan (1-for-4) led off with a single, and Lyons singled to move Madigan into scoring position with two outs on the board.
Michael Foster struck out but reached first base as the third strike hit the dirt and Notre Dame's first baseman committed an error on the play.
Jason Vosler (0-for-5) represented the tying run when he stepped into the batter's box, but the NU shortstop hit a hard grounder right at the second baseman for the game's final out.
The Huskies and Fighting Irish continue their weekend series on Saturday, April 26, at 3:05 p.m. (EDT).
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