Connaughton helps Irish baseball team to historic ACC victory
CHICAGO — Notre Dame received outstanding pitching performances from Pat Connaughton and Michael Hearne for a doubleheader sweep of Boston College, 4-2 and 7-0.
The wins give the Irish their first Atlantic Coast Conference series win in program history.
After mustering one run on five hits in Friday’s loss, the Irish bats awoke Saturday. Notre Dame scored 11 runs on 21 hits in two games. The 11 runs would be more than enough for Connaughton and Hearne. Both hurled complete games, firsts in their respective careers.
Connaughton (1-2) allowed two runs (one each in the eighth and ninth innings) on six hits and walked one. He also struck out six with 116 pitches.
Hearne, meanwhile, baffled BC. He held the visitors to just seven hits in earning the shutout. He also walked none and struck out five.
Notre Dame totaled five doubles and three triples in the two games in addition to drawing four walks and getting hit five times.
NOTRE DAME 4-7, BOSTON COLLEGE 2-0
At Chicago
| Boston Coll. | 000 | 000 | 011 — 2 6 1 |
| Notre Dame | 100 | 030 | 00x — 4 10 1 |
Pat Connaughton (W, 1-2); Andrew Chin (L, 2-2), Bobby Skogsbergh (7). 2B: (BC) Tom Bourdon, Michael Strem; (ND) Conor Biggio, Lane Richards. 3B: (ND) Robert Youngdahl.
Second game
| Boston Coll. | 000 | 000 | 000 — 0 7 1 |
| Notre Dame | 200 | 201 | 02x — 7 11 1 |
Michael Hearne (W, 2-4); Jeff Burke (L, 0-5), Luke Fernandes (5), Mike King (5), Steve Green (7), John Nicklas (7). 2B: (BC) Chris Shaw; (ND) Blaise Lezynski, Zak Kutsulis, Richards. 3B: (ND) Mac Hudgins, James Nevant. Records: Notre Dame 14-21 overall, 3-15 ACC.