Christian Becerra’s ’21 strong outing and a bevy of defensive miscues by Notre Dame propelled the baseball team to an 8-4 victory at O’Malley Family Field.

With the win, the squad completed a season sweep over its cross-town rival. Before the series, Notre Dame was considered the Wolverines foremost challenger in the Mission League.

With the victory, the Wolverines put themselves in the driver’s seat to win the league title.

“As a team, we’re feeling really good,” second baseman Michael Snyder ‘19 said. “Coming off two sweeps, we didn’t do that last year.”

Becerra scattered five hits over five stingy innings, striking out four and walking one.

“[I] focused on having the same mindset I always have,” Becerra said. “I was glad to have a lot of run support behind me, it took a little bit off the pressure.”

The Wolverines were able to take advantage of timely hitting and Notre Dame mistakes to take an early advantage.

Pete Crow-Armstrong ‘20 led off the game with a single off of Knights starter Michael Stromborg. Crow-Armstrong advanced to third off a passed ball and stolen base before scoring on Drew Bowser’s ‘20 groundout.

In the second, the floodgates opened, as the Wolverines took advantage of a pair of Stromborg walks to score three runs. Crow-Armstrong and Bowser each hit an RBI single.

The Wolverines added two runs in the third after Loren Frank stole second and third, scoring on an interference call. Calvin Koo ‘18 scored on Sam Biller’s ‘20 misplayed single.

Notre Dame got on the board in the 6th against JP Corrigan ‘19 before the Wolverines added two more in the bottom of the inning, including one on Bowser’s steal of home.

The Knights launched a last-ditch rally in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs before reliever Mike Golob ‘19 ended the game with a strikeout.

The Wolverines will take on St. Francis in next week’s series.

“We’re just trying to keep grooving along the way,” Becerra said. “Just keep repeating the same thing, working hard, picking each other up when we have to, just the small things that make us a great team.”