May 18, 2002
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame baseball team (41-14, 18-8 BIG EAST) clinched the top seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament, after finishing a three-game sweep of title contender Boston College (30-23, 15-11) with 10-6 and 5-2 wins on Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.
Notre Dame’s possible first-round BIG EAST Tournament opponents include Rutgers, Boston College, Pittsburgh and St. John’s, pending Sunday’s final day of league play.
Junior righthanders Ryan Kalita (4-0), in relief of freshman John Axford, and Peter Ogilvie (7-2) picked up the victories, with Ogilvie logging his second complete game of the season (fourth in last two seasons) while matching a career-best with eight strikeouts.
Sophomore first baseman and reigning BIG EAST player of the week Joe Thaman capped Notre Dame’s stunning reversal in the fourth inning of the first game, launching a grand-slam home run for the second straight game as the Irish plated seven runs to take a 7-6 lead.
Check back to und.com later this evening, on Sunday and throughout the week for more updates on Saturday’s games and regular updates on the Irish as they head into the postseason (members of Notre Dame’s senior class also were being honored at a special dinner on Saturday night, check back for details and photo galleries from the busy day).