NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Notre Dame baseball team clinched a series victory on Saturday with a 3-1 win over Tulane at Turchin Stadium. The Irish have won the first two games of the series after taking two out of three games on opening weekend at the Snowbird Invitational Tournament in Sarasota, Fla.
The Fighting Irish (4-1) jumped on the scoreboard with two runs in the top of the first inning after Tulane committed the first error of the series. Irish leadoff man Frank DeSico, who had walked to start the game, scored from third base when a throw from Tulane catcher Cameron Burns skipped into centerfield on an Eric Jagielo stolen base. Jagielo scored two batters later on a double by Ryan Bull.
Tulane (3-3) scored its lone run an inning later on an RBI double by Burns. The Green Waves had the chance to tie the score as well, but designated hitter Richard Carthon was thrown out at the plate by Charlie Markson after a fly ball to centerfield by Brennan Middleton.
Irish starter Adam Norton (2-0) wiggled in and out of trouble all afternoon on an overcast day in New Orleans. Norton saw Tulane advance the potential tying run into scoring position five different times in his 5.0 innings of work, but the Waves could never capitalize.
Norton scattered seven hits and allowed just a run in his second Saturday start in as many weeks. He struckout five and walked two batters. The two walks were a rarity for Norton. Saturday's game was his 24th career start and marked just the fourth time the senior has issued more than one free pass in a game.
Four Irish relievers combined to record the final 12 outs. They allowed just one hit with three strikeouts and no walks. Dan Slania earned his second save in as many games by pitching a perfect ninth inning.
With Saturday's win the Irish become the first team to win a non-conference series at Tulane since 2011. The series concludes Sunday with a 1 p.m. ET first pitch. An Irish win would make Notre Dame the first non-confernce opponent to sweep a series at Tulane in 15 years.
