‘Nova no match for wild weather, Irish

Raynor Denitzio

Battling both the inclement weather and a tough Notre Dame team, the baseball team came out of its three game weekend set with the Fighting Irish with an 0-2-1 record.

As the University settled in for ‘NovaFest Friday night, the ‘Cats took on the Irish in game one of their three game set. With a cold rain falling, the Irish jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against senior starter Nick Allen.

Allen turned in his fifth complete game, but picked up the loss to drop to 5-3 on the season. Three runs in the bottom of the third proved to be enough for the Irish.

The Wildcats got two runs back in the sixth to cut the lead to 4-2 on RBIs by Alan Day and James Dolbier, but Notre Dame added an insurance run in the seventh and went on to win 5-2.

Allen was matched by Notre Dame starter Tom Thorton, who pitched a complete game of his own for the win to move to 5-4 on the year.

After dropping this game, it would be two days before the ‘Cats would get another shot at Notre Dame.

Mother Nature was not cooperating, and the ‘Cats and Irish were forced to play their double header Monday after Sunday’s snow storm.

In game one, ‘Nova failed to hold two early leads before falling 9-4. Jumping ahead in the top of the first, the ‘Cats gave up two in the bottom of the first and three in the bottom of the second to fall behind 5-3.

Wildcat starter Kevin Mulvey went the distance, pitching seven innings for his second complete game on the season, but took the loss to drop to 3-2 on the year.

Short stop Ryan Arcadia was two for three with one RBI in the losing effort.

In the second game, the Wildcats sent sophomore Mike Loree to the hill in an effort to salvage something from this set, but time constraints forced the teams to a 7-7 tie in 10 innings.

Loree went six innings and left with the game tied 4-4. The Wildcats got two in the seventh and one in the eighth to take a 7-4 lead.

Senior closer Mike Grodecki was unable to hold the Irish, however, as a three run home run in the bottom of the ninth off the bat of Notre Dame short stop Greg Lopez tied the game.

Both teams failed to score in the tenth, and the game was called due to time constraints.

Sophmore Andy Wendle led the offensive attack, going three for three with three RBIs.

“Notre Dame was a rough situation. Sometimes the elements affect more than you would like, but for the most part, I still think that we are really playing good baseball,” sophomore Kai Beasley said. “Everyone is doing their part, and pulling an equal share of the rope. When we step out on that field, you can tell that we’re hungry, and we really want to win. Everyone is giving 110 percent and that’s the way it needs to be if you want to get victories.”

The Wildcats next travel to Boston to take on conference rival Boston College in a three game set this weekend.