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Notre Dame Baseball: Irish set up for easy South Bend Regional title

By Brad Weiss

CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 08: Niko Kavadas #12 of the University of Notre Dame waits for a pitch during a game between Notre Dame and North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium on March 08, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 08: Niko Kavadas #12 of the University of Notre Dame waits for a pitch during a game between Notre Dame and North Carolina at Boshamer Stadium on March 08, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /
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The Notre Dame Baseball team has looked downright dominant through two games of the South Bend Regional and can win it all Sunday night.

Earlier this week, we previewed the South Bend Regional and explained how we felt the bracket would shape out. We figured that the Notre Dame Baseball team would win it, and after two games of play, that is looking more and more like a reality.

The truth is, the Irish have dominated the competition, blowing out Central Michigan in Game 1 behind a tremendous effort from starting pitcher J.D. Bertrand. In Game 2, the bats went absolutely nuts, as Niko Kadavas continued to show why he may be the best pure, power hitter in the country.

As they enter Sunday, the Irish are one win away from winning the Regional and advancing to a Super Regional, where they could once again host. The way it works is, the top eight national seeds host a Super Regional, playing a best of three series against another school to decides who goes to the College World Series.

Notre Dame Baseball firing on all cylinders

After their incredible victory in Game 1, it was viewed that the Irish would beat UConn, but nobody could have seen what was coming. Getting out the gates fast, the Irish put 26 runs on the Huskies, yes you read that right, 26 runs, completely decimating the Big East’s regular-season and tournament champions.

For the Irish, it was a statement win for the program, who were bounced in the ACC Tournament, but have come on strong as a Regional host. If they pitch and hit the way they have through the first two games, there is no reason why they cannot be one of the eight teams standing in terms of the CWS later this month.

In their mauling of the Huskies, Kadavas and Ryan Cole combined for 14 runs batted in, and Will Mercer dazzled on the hill, allowing two runs on eight hits across seven innings. It was a total team effort, as the Irish racked up 21 hits in the contest, including six home runs.

The Irish can punch their ticket to the Super Regional on Sunday night, as they play the winner of the UConn-Central Michigan elimination game, which will be played earlier in the day. Notre Dame Baseball should have a ton of confidence going into that game no matter who they play and will have to be beaten by whoever it is twice to lose the Region.

For Notre Dame Baseball, the heavy lifting is done, now they just have to finish the job.

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