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Baseball: Double-steal in eighth sets up Dons’ winning run
Notre Dame's starting pitcher, Notre Dame's Charlie Jerger (16) tosses during the first inning. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: June 25, 2012 5:42PM
Notre Dame continued its “ace by committee” pitching with a 2-1 first round playoff win over Johnsburg on Thursday.
The Dons used eight different pitchers, who combined to give up only a run and three hits over eight innings while striking out five.
Notre Dame got on the board early when Matt Walsh singled to lead off the game, moved up to second on an error by the Johnsburg shortstop, then scored when the catcher’s throw sailed into second base on a double-steal attempt.
Johnsburg tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth on two walks, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly.
Bobby Regal and Nick Pieruccini sparked the game-winning rally in the eighth with back-to-back, one-out singles. With a 2-2 count on Sean Pavel, the two base runners executed a perfect double-steal. On the next pitch, Pavel launched a deep fly ball into center field to score Regal.
The Dons will be back in action against Grayslake Central at 2 p.m. Saturday at Notre Dame for the regional title.
