Notre Dame baseball team makes memories in game at Busch Stadium

The Notre Dame baseball team defeated Marshall County, Kentucky, in a baseball game Thursday, but that's not the story.

After the crowd cleared following Thursday's rubber match between the Brewers and Cardinals, the Bulldogs and Marshals took the field at Busch Stadium to warm up for a game of their own.

Notre Dame took the lead for good with a four-run fifth inning and won a 9-7 decision in nine innings, and along with that victory came memories that will last a lifetime.

"It was really just hard to believe it was real," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said after his team stretched its winning streak to six games. "... I told them all at the end of the day what kind of a blessing it was to have the opportunity to play a game where the Cardinals had just got done playing. Those are guys that do this for a living, and we all look up to them.

"The weather was beautiful. It turned out to be an awesome day, and I hope this is something these guys will remember for the rest of their lives."

Whether in the dugout or on the field, a victory became more of an afterthought for both teams, but Graviett said the win made Thursday's experience all the better.

"It was unbelievable how we could end the day with a win, but more important than that, they got some memories," Graviett said. "... We ended up getting everybody in on some level, so everybody got a taste of playing at Busch Stadium."

Tyler Essner took the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning and pitched four scoreless innings to earn the win. He allowed one hit and had five strikeouts and three walks.

"We didn't know how much we were going to use him for, but he just really came in and battled and put up a bunch of zeroes for us," Graviett said. "For a junior, he'd kind of been the unknown hero in the staff so far."

Graham Ruopp got the start but was chased after giving up seven runs -- two earned -- on six hits over four innings. The Missouri signee finished with eight strikeouts and two walks. Adam Pope allowed no hits and had two strikeouts to earn the save.

Graviett said he's been pleased with the consistency from his pitching staff.

"We've got three senior leaders that have been phenomenal for us. Our pitching staff is just mind-boggling right now," Graviett said. "We didn't play real good defensively, and Graham didn't have his best stuff today. But we just keep throwing quality arms out there. It just makes us who we are right now as a ballclub, and it really starts with our pitching."

Logan Heisserer and Christian Job each singled to start the top of the fifth inning for Notre Dame (8-3). A hit and a pair of errors led to four runs for the Bulldogs, who carried an 8-7 lead into the bottom of the frame.

Marshall (11-6) took a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the third when Justice Beal hit a bases-clearing triple, but Graviett liked how his players responded two innings later.

"We swung the bats extremely well," Graviett said. "I even thought they made some plays, and I thought we hit the ball much better than they did throughout the day. They had a bases-clearing triple in the third, and our dobbers just kind of went down. To get that lift and get those runs and take that lead in the fifth was huge."

Thomas Himmelberg and Dean Crippen each finished 2 for 3 for Notre Dame, while Job was 2 for 4 at the plate.

After only eight errors through the first 10 games of the season, the Bulldogs finished Thursday's game with three.

"Just coming out there and playing on that stage, it didn't look like we had a big crowd out there, but there were probably 1,000 people there. That was the most these kids have probably ever played in front of, as far as my knowledge. We had a great following from Notre Dame, and that excitement just adds pressure," Graviett said. "... The beauty of this is that we got to play under a lot of pressure, so that should help us moving forward."

Graviett likes the direction his team is headed.

"We're excited. We're starting to get to play multiple games of baseball. I think a big thing is the weather is starting to straighten up, and by that time, it seems like the team is really clicking," Graviett said. "Pitching's been there all year long, but the bats are starting to come together and get some life. ... We're right at about that midway point, so we're right where we need to be."

Notre Dame 112 041 000 -- 9 12 3

Marshall Co. 204 100 000 -- 7 7 5

WP -- Tyler Essner. LP -- J.C. Goins. 3B -- Justice Beal (MC). Multiple hits -- Notre Dame: Thomas Himmelberg 2-3, Dean Crippen 2-3, Christian Job 2-4; Marshall Co.: Dylan Greenfield 2-3, Mason Wooten 2-4, Chase Bright 2-4.