June 10, 2002

The University of Notre Dame baseball team (49-16) advanced to the 2002 College World Series with a 3-1 victory over #1 Florida State on Monday afternoon.

The Irish will be making their first appearance in college baseball’s greatest event for the first time since 1957. Notre Dame entered the best-of-three super regional tournament in Tallahassee ranked 11th and defeated the Seminoles on Friday and Monday to advance. Florida State ends the season with a 60-14 record.

Chris Niesel led the Irish to victory on the mound, working eight solid innings, scattering six hits and surrendering just one run. J.P. Gagne dominated the ninth inning while picking up his sixth save, striking out all three batters he faced.

On offense, Steve Sollman drove in two of the Irish runs with an RBI single and sacrifice fly. Javier Sanchez provided an insurance run in the seventh inning with an RBI single as well.

Game times for this weekend’s World Series games have not been established yet. Notre Dame will face Stanford in its first game.