March 1, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Devil Rays posted a 17-4 win over the University of Notre Dame in exhibition baseball action Thursday afternoon at Florida Power Park.

Notre Dame elected not to use any of its top six pitchers in preparation for the upcoming Devil Rays College Invitational, which also will be played at Florida Power Park (March 2-4). Notre Dame leading hitter Brian Stavisky also did not play due to a hamstring injury and remains out indefinitely.

The Irish plated a pair of runs in both the fourth and sixth innings, with sophomore leftfielder Kris Billmaier collecting an RBI in both innings.

The Devil Rays broke open a 5-2 gamw with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth, sparked by home runs from Ron Wright (solo shot) and Derrick Gibson (pinch-hit, three-run).

Irish sophomore righthander Peter Ogilvie turned in an encouraging debut performence, after not pitching in 2000 due to a elbow sprain. Ogilvie opened the day by striking out centerfielder Gerald Williams but had a rough second inning (5 R, 4 H, BB, 2 WP) before turning in a 1-2-3 inning.

Notre Dame failed to score versus starter Travis Harper but pushed across two runs in the third versus highly-touted righthander Matt White, who walked Matt Bok and Alec Porzel before throwing a pickoff attempt into center field. Paul O’Toole’s walk then loaded the bases and Billmaier followed with a dipping single to center field before Joe Thaman’s one-out groundout plated the second Irish run.

Porzel’s blooper to left field sparked three straight Irish hits in the fourth, with Matt Strickroth then driving a pinch-hit double off the wall in left-center before Billmaier sent an RBI single up the middle. Freshman Soran Leahy’s pinch-hit groundball plated the fourth Irish run.

The day began with a chance for the two teams to visit on the field before each squad took the customary infield and batting practice. Stanley then opened the day by drawing a walk, finding himself at first base alongside Fred McGriff.

Notre Dame 0-0-0 2-0-2 0-0-0 – 4 6 2

Tampa Bay Devil Rays 0-5-0 0-7-1 2-2-X – 17 20 1

Peter Ogilvie, Drew Duff (4), Mike Morgalis (5), Nick Colagiovanni (5), Aaron Edwards (7), Mike Naumann (8) and Paul OToole, Andrew Bushey (4), Soran Leahy (6).

Travis Harper, Matt White (3), Jason Standridge, Zambrano, Meacham and John Flaherty, Pat Borders (5), Hoover (7).

Home Runs (TB): Wright, Gibson.

Doubles: Joe Thaman (ND), Matt Strickroth (ND), Ben Grieve (TB), Jason Tyner (TB), Aubrey Huff (TB), Kenny Kelly (TB).