Notre Dame baseball: Irish swamped by Fla. Atlantic

After a strong start to the season Saturday afternoon, the Notre Dame baseball team struggled in its final two games of the weekend at Florida Atlantic, including a 13-3 loss in Sunday’s series finale.

The Irish took down the No. 24 Owls, 9-2, in the first game of Saturday’s season-opening doubleheader before committing six errors in the nightcap and losing, 16-6.

Notre Dame gave up 34 hits in the final two games, including 16 on Sunday.

For the third game in a row Notre Dame scored runs in the opening frame, putting up two to take the early lead. It was all Owls from that point on, however, as the home team put up three runs in the bottom half of the first and then five in the third to go up, 8-3.

Junior Scott Kerrigan (0-1), making his first career start after missing all of the 2013 season following shoulder surgery, struggled on the mound for the Irish. He gave up eight runs (three earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and no walks. He also hit two batters, threw a wild pitch and had a throwing error.

Notre Dame returns to action Thursday as it travels to San Antonio, Texas, for the Irish Classic. ND will face Gonzaga, Santa Clara and Incarnate Word.

At Boca Raton, Fla.

Scott Kerrigan (L, 0-1), Robert Youngdahl (3), Michael Hearne (6), Jim Orwick (8), Donnie Hissa (8); Drew Jackson (W, 1-0), Bo Logan (6), Kevin Alexander (8).

2B: Zak Kutsulis (ND), Cavan Biggio (ND), Ryan Bull (ND), Lane Richards (ND), Ricky Santiago (FAU), Esteban Puerta (FAU).

T – 2:41. A – 829.