PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Notre Dame’s offense erupted for 21 runs on 22 hits Saturday afternoon at Petersen Sports Complex, overwhelming Pittsburgh 21-10 to claim the Atlantic Coast Conference series two games to one.

The Fightin’ Irish, now 30-21 overall, broke open a tight contest with a nine-run sixth inning that turned a 12-5 lead into a 21-5 rout. Pittsburgh, which dropped to 30-23, tried to rally with five runs in the bottom of the frame, but the deficit proved insurmountable.

Drew Berkland led Notre Dame’s assault, going 4 for 6 with two home runs and four RBIs. The center fielder homered in the second and sixth innings, giving him 15 on the season. He entered the day 2 for 6 in Friday’s win over the Panthers and 1 for 5 in Thursday’s loss.

Catcher Mark Quatrani also collected four hits in six at-bats, including a double and a home run, driving in five runs. Right fielder Jayce Lee went 2 for 5 with two homers and three RBIs, first baseman Dylan Passo was 2 for 3 with a three-run homer and three RBIs, and second baseman Jamie Zee finished 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Left fielder Bino Watters added four hits and an RBI.

Notre Dame starter DJ Helwig pitched 2⅔ shutout innings, allowing no hits and one earned run, before giving way to a bullpen that held Pittsburgh to nine hits overall.

The game began in the afternoon under clear skies.

Notre Dame struck first in the top of the first. Berkland singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Watters’ RBI single. Two batters later, Passo launched a three-run homer to right field, scoring Watters and Lee.

The Irish added three more in the second. Berkland hit a two-run homer to deep left field, scoring Miranda, then Quatrani doubled home Watters. That made it 7-0.

Pittsburgh got on the board in the third when Ligenza walked, advanced to third on Anthony LaSala’s double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nessler.

Notre Dame answered with four runs in the fourth. Quatrani singled home Berkland, Coy drove in Watters on a fielder’s choice, and Lee hit a two-run homer to center field. The Irish led 11-1 after the top half.

The Panthers cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Baran hit a two-run home run to right field, and LaSala added an RBI single, making it 11-4.

Quatrani’s RBI single in the fifth extended the Irish lead to 12-4, but Pittsburgh’s Carrier homered in the fifth to pull within 12-5.

Then came the decisive sixth inning. Notre Dame sent 13 batters to the plate. Zee hit a three-run homer. Berkland followed with a two-run homer. Quatrani crushed a two-run homer. Lee added a solo shot. Miranda was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in another run. When the inning finally ended, the Irish had built a 21-5 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth, Pittsburgh answered with five runs. LaSala drove in two on a fielder’s choice with an error, Nessler added a run-scoring groundout, and Carrier hit a two-run homer, his second of the game and 20th of the season. But the Irish bullpen shut down the Panthers from there, retiring the side in order in the seventh.

For Pittsburgh, right fielder Lorenzo Carrier was 3 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Designated hitter Joey Baran had a two-run homer and finished 2 for 4. Shortstop Anthony LaSala drove in two runs on two hits.

The series opened Thursday with Pittsburgh winning 6-3. Notre Dame took Friday’s extra-inning affair 6-4 in 10 innings, then ended the weekend with this offensive explosion.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Notre Dame 8, Pittsburgh 3, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Irish a 58.80 percent probability to win.