IRISH kick off series in style
BERTRAND, RELIEVERS handcuff longhorns as notre dame prevails in first cws appearance in 20 years
OMAHA, Neb. — John Michael Bertrand and two relievers held Texas’ potent offense in check, and Notre Dame scored in all kinds of ways in a 7-3 victory Friday in its first College World Series game in 20 years.
The Irish (41-15) carried over their momentum from eliminating No. 1 national seed Tennessee in the super regionals with a strong all-around performance against the program making its record 38th appearance in Omaha.
‘‘It was fun for you and the fans and the country that watched our team because I feel like when we’re playing well, that’s what we do,’’ Notre Dame coach Link Jarrett said. ‘‘I’m very proud of them to come into this atmosphere and perform for the first time that well-rounded of a game against clearly a phenomenal program.’’
The Irish will play Oklahoma on Sunday. The Longhorns (47-21) will face rival Texas A&M in an elimination game.
‘‘It just wasn’t our day,’’ Texas coach David Pierce said. ‘‘We couldn’t get that flow going, and we just couldn’t get their traffic off the bases all day. We were constantly under stress defensively and pitching.’’
Bertrand (10-3), who was roughed up in his start last week against Tennessee, limited the Longhorns to three runs and six hits in 5⅓ innings. Alex Rao and Jack Findlay gave up no hits in 3‰ innings, with Findlay earning his fourth save.
Notre Dame scored six runs and banged out nine hits against Texas starter Pete Hansen (11-3). They picked up single runs on a home run by Jared Miller in the first inning, an RBI grounder in the third and a safety squeeze in the fourth, then scored three times in the fifth on a balk by Tristan Stevens and a couple of RBI singles.
Carter Putz’s homer in the ninth gave the Irish a four-run lead.
‘‘When you come out of the corners in a boxing match and you can land the first blow, it’s a really good feeling,’’ Jarrett said. ‘‘It gives you the momentum and the mojo, and when you’re coaching the game with the lead, you have some options . . . . The playbook opens up a little bit more.’’