Eubanks, Tigers blank Notre Dame to sweep series

With each outing Alex Eubanks gets better and better for No. 9 Clemson.

On Sunday, the righty allowed just four hits in seven innings of work, leading the Tigers to a 4-0 victory over Notre Dame to complete the three-game sweep. The sophomore struck out seven batters and walked just two in gaining his second victory of the season.

The Tigers have now won 11 of their last 12 games overall and six straight. They also own an 11-game winning streak over ACC teams.

“What a great way to get ACC play started,” Clemson head coach Monte Lee said. “Alex Eubanks threw the ball very, very well. Ryan Miller was very good out of the pen. We only used six pitchers for the weekend. So our starters did a nice job and our bullpen did a great job.”

Eubanks’ seven innings match his season-high for an outing. He also went seven innings in a 3-0 win over Elon on Feb. 26. Eubanks, who threw 103 pitches on Sunday, allowed just three hits and had seven strikeouts in that victory.

“I just tried to pound the strike zone,” Eubanks said. “Our defense has been playing phenomenal and that has been the staple point for us all year long. With the confidence I have in them, I just try to fill the zone up.”

The Irish (3-11, 0-3 ACC) had a couple of opportunities to get on the board, but Eubanks got out of the jam in each occasion. With runners at second and third in the bottom of the second, he struck out Jake Shepski swinging to end the inning.

Notre Dame got back-to-back two-out hits in the top of the sixth inning from Nick Podkul and Matt Vierling, but Eubanks got out of the jam when he got Daniel Jung chasing on a 1-2 count.

In the top of the seventh inning, Conner Power doubled down the third base line to start the inning, but he got Cole Daliy to strikeout and then got Shepski to pop up to third base, while Jake Johnson flew out to center field to end the threat.

Clemson (12-3, 3-0 ACC) gave Eubanks run support right from the start. The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Chris Williams singled through the left side with two outs to score Robert Jolly from second base. Jolly reached with one out by drawing a walk.

The Tigers extended their lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Jolly scored Chase Pinder on a sac fly to left center field. Pinder got a one-out double and then moved to third on a wild pitch by Notre Dame pitcher Brad Bass.

Clemson picked up two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Andrew Cox, who had a one-out single, scored on a wild pitch from Irish starter Brad Bass. Weston Jackson then scored on a fielder’s choice to first base by Logan Davidson for a 4-0 lead.

The Tigers will host Yale in a two-game series starting on Tuesday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. The two will also play on Wednesday.