The Bulls' starting pitcher was coming off a 13-strikeout performance versus Georgetown, and Barbosa was impressive as he brought a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning. He recorded a season high 14 strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
In the bottom of the second inning Daniel Rockhold smacked a homerun just inside the left field foul pole to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead. Barbosa was able to hold the lead through the sixth inning, getting out of a little bit of trouble by picking off Ryan Bull who reached on a throwing error by Rockhold at third.
In the bottom of the sixth inning the Bulls loaded the bases but left them there. The Bull stranded 15 total throughout the game.
In the top of the seventh Barbosa started to show fatigue and gave up a single to start off the inning and hit the next batter. Barbosa was able to produce a groundball for a 4-6-3 double play. He then hit the next batter, and walked the following to load up the bases. This all led up to an Alex Robinson bases-clearing double after a Barbosa mistake making the score 3-1.
The Bulls were quick to strike back in the eighth. A pitch to start off the inning hit Rockford and this was followed by a base hit by Matt Hart.
This was the end of the night for Notre Dame starter Will Hudgins, as he finished the night with four strikeouts over 7.1 innings pitched, only allowing three runs.
Chris Norton then walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Buddy Putnam stepped to the plate and plated two with a single to tie the game. The Bulls were able to load the bases again, but again stranded three.
Into extra innings they went after the Bulls were unable to cash in after they loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth.
The Irish loaded the bases in the tenth and called upon pinch hitter Connor Biggio, who showcased the same clutch gene his father, Craig Biggio, had by hitting the go ahead single, making the score 5-3. Notre Dame went on and scored three more before shutting down the Bulls in the tenth.
The Bulls (18-9, 3-1) and Irish (16-8, 4-0) will square off for game two on Saturday at 6 p.m. Joey Lovecchio (5-0) will face Notre Dame's Adam Norton (3-1).