Junior RHP Pat Connaughton was named a top-50 draft-eligible prospect by Perfect Game Monday.

Irish Baseball Close Regular Season At Cincinnati

May 16, 2013

THE MATCHUP
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (30-21, 9-12)
vs
Cincinnati Bearcats (22-31, 4-17)
Cincinnati, Ohio | Marge Schott Stadium (3,085)

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PROBABLE PITCHERS
Thursday (6:30 p.m.)
RHP Adam Norton (9-3, 2.00 ERA)
vs.
RHP Matt Ring (2-1, 3.38 ERA)

Friday (7 p.m.) – CBS Sports Network
RHP Pat Connaughton (2-2, 2.29 ERA)
vs.
RHP Grant Walker (2-3, 4.54 ERA)

Saturday (4 p.m.) – CBS Sports Network
RHP Sean Fitzgerald (5-3, 4.57 ERA)
vs.
RHP Mitch Patishall (3-4, 4.20 ERA)

LIVE-GAME COVERAGE
TV: CBS Sports Network – Friday-Saturday (Brent Stover, CJ Nitkowski)
Live Audio: WHME 103.1 FM (Chuck Freeby); UND.com – Audio: G1 | G2 | G3
Live Stats: UND.com – GT: | |

IN THE BATTERS BOX — Notre Dame opens its final three-game BIG EAST series in school history at 6:30 p.m. Thursday against Cincinnati at Marge Schott Stadium. Friday’s contest is slated for 7 p.m. and Sunday’s series finale is slated for 4 p.m. (both will be televised on the CBS Sports Network). All three games can be heard on Harvest Radio WHME 103.1 FM locally in South Bend and worldwide at UND.com.

THIS WEEKEND’S STORY LINES — Notre Dame (9-12) enters this weekend’s series with Cincinnati tied with St. John’s (9-12) for sixth place in the BIG EAST standings. The Red Storm have the tie-breaker over the Irish thanks to last weekend’s series victory. Connecticut (9-15) stands eighth. All eight teams have secured its trip to the 2013 BIG EAST Tournament in Clearwater, Fla. u Notre Dame can only finish sixth or seventh. The Irish are not able to catch fifth-place Rutgers or fall behind eighth-place UConn.

W L Pct.
*Pittsburgh 18 3 .857
*Louisville 17 4 .810
*Seton Hall 16 5 .762
*South Florida 15 6 .714
*Rutgers 13 8 .619
*Notre Dame 9 12 .429
*St. John’s 9 12 .429
*Connecticut 9 15 .375
Georgetown 5 16 .238
Cincinnati 4 17 .190
Villanova 2 19 .095

* clinched spot in BIG EAST tournament

Remaining Schedule
May 16-18
Connecticut at George Mason
Notre Dame at Cincinnati
Pittsburgh at Louisville
Rutgers at USF
St. John’s at Seton Hall
Villanova at Georgetown

PLAYING THE BEST — Notre Dame has played nine games against top-25 opponents (No. 25 Virginia Tech, No. 7 UCLA, No. 10 Oklahoma and three games against both No. 20 Cal Poly and No. 10 Louisville). The Irish have captured four of those nine meetings.

  • Notre Dame also defeated unranked Florida Gulf Coast, 6-5, in 10 innings in the season opener and the Eagles have since moved into the top 25.
  • The Irish played nine top-25 foes over their first 25 games.
  • The Irish were ranked No. 42 in the most recent NCAA RPI. Louisville (No. 21) and Seton Hall (No. 34) were the only BIG EAST schools with a higher RPI than the Irish. Here is a breakdown of the league by NCAA RPI:
Rank Last Week School W-L-T Road Neutral Home Non-DI
21 23 Louisville 42-10-0 12-4-0 2- 1- 0 28-5-0 0-0-0
34 42 Seton Hall 33-16-0 18-13-0 0- 0- 0 15-3-0 0-0-0
42 31 Notre Dame 29-21-0 8-13-0 7- 2- 0 14-6-0 0-0-0
64 44 Pittsburgh 40-11-0 15-5-0 0- 2- 0 25-4-0 0-0-0
65 52 USF 32-19-0 8-13-0 1- 2- 0 23-4-0 0-0-0
72 67 Rutgers 25-26-0 13-18-0 0- 2- 0 12-6-0 0-0-0
95 85 Connecticut 28-24-0 16-13-0 5- 2- 0 7-9-0 0-0-0
155 159 St. John’s 22-31-0 7-17-0 2- 4- 0 13-10-0 0-0-0
184 178 Georgetown 25-24-0 7-11-0 7- 4- 0 11-9-0 0-0-0
245 247 Cincinnati 21-31-0 4-15-0 1- 1- 0 15-15-0 1-0-0
256 261 Villanova 11-39-0 4-14-0 1- 5- 0 6-19-0 0-1-0

* as of May 14, 2013

NOTRE DAME-CINCINNATI SERIES NOTES — Notre Dame and Cincinnati have met 41 times on the diamond, with the Irish holding a 25-16 (.610) lead in the series dating back to the 1948 season.

  • Notre Dame has won five of their last seven meetings with the Bearcats, including taking two of three from Cincinnati in each of the last two series in 2010 and 2012 (both in Frank Eck Stadium). The Irish and the Bearcats did not play in 2011. Notre Dame has dropped two of three to Cincinnati in each of their last two trips (2007, 2009). The Irish own an all-time record of 9-11 (.450) against Cincinnati in the Queen City of the West.
  • The Irish and Bearcats have met 15 times since 2007 and Cincinnati has a slight edge in those meetings (8-7). Nine of those 14 meetings have been decided by one run and the Bearcats have captured five of those games.
  • Current Bearcats’ head coach Brian Cleary spent two seasons in South Bend (1992-93) on Pat Murphy’s staff.
  • Notre Dame took two of three from Cincinnati in a series in South Bend in 2010.
  • Brian Dupra tossed 7.1 solid innings and Casey Martin drove in three, including a critical two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Irish knock off Cincinnati, 5-2, in the 2010 series opener. Dupra scattered seven hits and allowed just two earned runs. He held the Bearcats scoreless over the first six innings as Notre Dame strolled out to a 3-0 lead. In fact, Cincinnati did not advance a runner to third base until two outs in the seventh inning. Martin and Frank Desico each had three hits. Martin went 3-for-4 with a run scored and added an RBI double. DeSico also went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Ryan Connolly went 1-for-4 with a solo home run.
  • Steve Sabatino allowed just a pair of singles and one earned run in 5.2 innings, but Cincinnati plated four runs in the top of the ninth to overcome a 3-1 deficit and defeat Notre Dame, 5-4, in the first game of a doubleheader. After Will Hudgins retired the first batter of the Cincinnati ninth, a single and a double put runners on second and third with one out. Steven Mazur came into the game looking for a save for the second time in as many days. But he was not so fortunate, as he walked T.J. Jones to load the bases before Chris Peters made the score 3-2 in favor of Notre Dame with a bloop single to center. After another walk forced in the tying run, a sacrifice fly by Justin Riddell and an RBI single by Logan Jackson put the Bearcats up by two. Mazur shouldered the loss after suffering his third blown save of the season. He and Hudgins each surrendered two earned runs in the ninth inning.
  • After Cincinnati plated two unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the score, 4-4, David Mills took a 1-1 fast ball from Bearcats closer Andrew Burkett and deposited it over the left field wall for a walk-off home run that gave the Irish a thrilling 5-4 victory in the rubber game of the series. Mills’ heroics marked the first time an Eck Stadium crowd had been treated to a game-ending home run since nearly four years earlier to the day (April 15, 2006), as Alex Nettey’s two-run bomb completed a rally that beat St. John’s, 7-5, and give Notre Dame its 17th straight victory. Mills’ home run was not exactly a no-doubter. The senior appeared to have fouled the ball down the left field line, but as Cincinnati right fielder Jake Proctor raced toward the line to make an attempt; the ball appeared to change direction. Proctor then turned completely around, with his back to home plate, and hustled back to the left field wall, but it just cleared the 330-foot sign. The home run made a winner out of Will Hudgins. The sidewinder did not allow an earned run in 1.2 innings of relief, but was victimized by a pair of errors in the top of the ninth inning
  • The Bearcats took two of three from Notre Dame for the third straight year in 2009 in the Queen City. Cincinnati ralled from a 4-2 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the 11th inning, thanks in part to three walks, to steal the series opener, 5-4. Cole Johnson was masterful, but did not factor into the decision. The right-handed hurler went 9.2 innings and allowed just two earned runs on eight hits. Johnson struck out five and walked three. He became the first Notre Dame pitcher to work into the 10th inning since Aaron Heilman tossed 10.0 innings against West Virginia on April 15, 2000. Johnson has now tossed 9.0 or more innings in three consecutive stats. After Friday’s contest was washed out, the Bearcats and Irish then split a doubleheader (3-7, 6-2) to conclude the series.
  • In 2008 at Notre Dame, Cincinnati took two of the three games. The Irish and Bearcats split a doubleheader on Saturday, 3-5, 4-3 (Friday meeting was rained out). The Bearcats then held off the Irish, 4-3, in the series finale.
  • In 2007 at Cincinnati, the Bearcats won two of three games, including wins by identical scores of 4-3 and 4-3 before Notre Dame won the third game, 9-5. It marked the first ever meeting between the two schools as members of the BIG EAST Conference.
  • The Irish captured the previous seven meetings and 13 of 16 before the Bearcats entered the BIG EAST.

LAST HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES — Notre Dame captured the first two games of the series in 2012, both by a run, but Cincinnati took the finale.

  • Eight runs in the first three innings combined with a strong bullpen effort helped Notre Dame halt its five-game losing streak as the Irish defeated Cincinnati, 10-9. Notre Dame, who led by as many as seven runs, held on to even their conference record while the Bearcats dropped their sixth straight. RHP Sean Fitzgerald (3-3) earned the win with 2.1 innings in relief of Irish senior starter Will Hudgins. He allowed two runs and struck out four. Meanwhile, Bearcats starter Anthony Strenge (1-2) took the loss after giving up seven runs in 2.0 innings. RHP Dan Slania earned his seventh save, pitching a scoreless ninth.
  • Alex Robinson capped off a two-run ninth inning rally with a walk-of RBI single to give the Irish a thrilling, 6-5, victory over Cincinnati. Notre Dame has captured each of the first two games of the series with the Bearcats by a single run. Matt Ternowchek picked up the victory in relief. He retired the only Bearcat he faced and did so on just two pitches. Phil Mosey, Robinson, Frank Desico and Eric Jagielo paced the Notre Dame attack with two hits apiece. Mosey went 2-for-4 with his first career home run. Robinson went 2-for-5 with three RBI, including a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth. DeSico went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while Jagielo went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
  • Five runs against the Notre Dame bullpen and 7.0 strong innings from starter Christian McElroy helped Cincinnati avoid a sweep as they defeated the Irish, 6-2. McElroy, who improved to 2-2 with the victory, tossed 7.0 innings for the longest outing of his career and held the Irish offense to just three hits. He struggled with command at times, walking five and hitting three batters, but Notre Dame failed to take advantage. The Irish left 12 runners on base, including eight in scoring position. Notre Dame loaded the bases twice and failed to score on either occasion. The Irish went 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position and just 2-for-19 (.105) with runners on base.

COMMON FOES

Notre Dame Cincinnati
Michigan State 1-0 0-1
Eastern Michigan 0-1 0-3
Western Michigan 1-0 2-1
USF 1-2 0-3
St. John’s 1-2 1-2
Toledo 0-1 1-0
Louisville 0-3 0-3
Ohio State 1-0 1-0
Villanova 2-1 2-1
Pittsburgh 0-3 0-3
Seton Hall 2-1 0-3
TOTALS 9-14 7-20

TALE OF THE TAPE

Notre Dame Cincinnati
Batting Average .276 .265
Runs Per Game 5.06 5.26
Home Runs 23 20
Slugging Percentage .388 .356
Batters’ BB+HBP-SO Margin -113 -74
On-Base Percentage .352 .361
Stolen Bases 53-75 99-125
Team ERA 3.72 4.59
Opponent Batting Average .263 .274
Pitchers’ SO-BB Ratio 2.29 1.52
Pitchers’ SO Per 9 Innings 5.85 6.56
Pitchers’ BB Per 9 Innings 2.56 4.32
Fielding Pct. (Errors) .970 (61) .953 (94)
Double Plays Turned 45 46
Record at Home 14-6 17-15
Record on Road (including neutral) 16-15 5-16
Record in One-Run Games 11-7 6-5
Record in Extra Innings 4-3 1-2


WALKING A TIGHTROPE — Notre Dame has played in 18 games decided by one run. The Irish own an 11-7 record in those outings. The 11 one-run victories equals the most in single-season school history.

  • The nip-and-tuck battles are nothing new to Notre Dame. The Irish played 18 games decided by one run in 2012. Notre Dame went 11-7 in those outings. In fact, the Irish also played in 20 such games in 2011 as well (going 10-10).
  • In all, Notre Dame has played in 56 different one-run contests since third-year head coach Mik Aoki arrived on campus. That’s 56 of 161 games or 35 percent of Aoki’s tenure in an Irish uniform. Notre Dame is 32-24 in one-run games under Aoki.
  • The 11 wins by a single run in 2012 and 2013 are tied for the most in single-season school history (1990, 1981).
  • Notre Dame established the school record for most games decided by a single run in 2011. The 2001 squad also played in 18 games decided by the slimmest of margins.
  • Here is a look at the top 10 seasons in terms of most games decided by a single run and those teams records in those contests.
Rank Year 1-run Games Record Rank Year 1-run Wins
1. 2011 20 10-10 1. 2013 11
2. 2013 18 11-7 1990 11
2012 18 11-7 1981 11
2001 18 9-9 2012 11
5. 2002 17 9-8 5. 2011 10
2009 17 10-7 2009 10
7. 1981 16 11-5 2004 10
8. 1997 15 9-6 1999 10
1990 15 11-4 1998 10
1998 15 10-5 10. 2003, 2002 9
2004 15 10-5 2001, 1997 9
1992, 1967 9, (9-0)
  • Notre Dame played in nine more games decided by two runs in 2012. In all, 27 of Notre Dame’s 58 games were decided by two runs or less.
  • Over the last three seasons, 76 of Notre Dame’s 161 games (just over 47 percent) have been decided by two runs or less.
  • Notre Dame topped No. 20 Cal Poly, 1-0, on Mar. 15. The previous 1-0 victory for the Irish came almost a year to the date. Notre Dame defeated Kansas, 1-0, on Mar. 16, 2012 in San Antonio at the Irish Baseball Classic. Notre Dame has captured 40 games by a score of 1-0 over the 120-year history of the program, including four under third-year head coach Mik Aoki. The Irish have not captured a 1-0 game on the road since Apr. 1, 1989 when Notre Dame upended Saint Louis.

AOKI, IRISH SEEN THE 19TH BEFORE — Notre Dame and USF not only played the longest game in BIG EAST history, but the 19-inning contest on May 3 was the longest in the histories of both programs. The Irish have played baseball for 120 years.

  • Notre Dame played into the 19th inning at Rutgers on May 11, 2003, but the Scarlet Knights collected a walk-off victory with two outs in the bottom half of the inning. Thus, the game officially lasted 18.2 innings.
  • The game lasted exactly five hours, featured 36 different players and a total of 540 pitches.
  • NCAA Division I baseball has not seen a longer regular-season game since March 26, 2011 when San Diego and Fresno State played a 22-inning contest. Only 16 games in NCAA history have ever reached the 20th inning.
  • The longest game in NCAA history was 25 innings between Boston College and Texas on May 30, 2009, in the Austin Regional. The Eagles were coached in that game by current third-year Irish skipper Mik Aoki.

COULD-A, SHOULD-A, WOULD-A — Notre Dame had a myriad of scoring chances throughout the first two games of the series with USF and simply was not able to take advantage.

  • The Irish had the lead-off batter reach base in 11 different innings in the two defeats, yet Notre Dame collected a run on just two of those opportunities.
  • Notre Dame stranded 31 base runners over the first two games of the series, including an astounding 21 in scoring position alone.
  • The Irish advanced a runner into scoring position with less than two outs on 23 occasions on May 3-4, yet Notre Dame scored a run on just three of those chances. In fact, the Irish were 2-for-23 (.087) in the first two games of the series once a runner reached second base with less than two outs.
  • Here is a breakdown of Notre Dame’s difficulties this compared to USF’s success in games one and two:
Notre Dame USF
With Runners on Base: .133 (6-for-45) .319 (15-for-47)
With Bases Loaded: .000 (0-for-4) .333 (2-for-6)
With Runners in Scoring Position: .067 (2-for-30) .367 (11-for-30)
  • On May 4, Notre Dame left the bases loaded in the second, eighth and 10th innings. In fact, the Irish stranded 16 on the day, including an astounding 12 in scoring position.
  • The Irish were 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position in the series before senior 2B and co-captain Frank Desico came through with a two out, two strike RBI single in the bottom of the 10th to cut the USF lead to 4-2 on May 4. After DeSico stole second, sophomore LF Mac Hudgins drew a walk to load the bases for freshman CF Kyle Richardson. The defensive replacement ultimately drew a bases loaded walk to make the score, 4-3, but junior 1B and All-American candidate Trey Mancini grounded out sharply to the pitcher to stand the bases loaded.
  • After Notre Dame pushed its lead to 2-0 on Hudgins’ pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the seventh on May 3, the Irish appeared as though they added another insurance run in the eighth. junior 3B and All-American candidate Eric Jagielo ripped a single and was in the process of cruising home on Mancini’s ensuing RBI double, but the junior tripped a few steps shy of home plate and laid on the ground before being tagged out.
  • The unfortunate mishap proved costly in the top of the ninth inning. Kyle Copack led off the Bulls ninth inning with a bloop single, but Slania collected back-to-back strikeouts. Notre Dame was one out away from victory when Mendez stroked a 0-1 offering from Slania into the left centerfield gap to tie the game, 2-2.
  • The defeat was Notre Dame’s first when taking a lead to the ninth inning in 2013. In fact, the Irish had not blown a ninth-inning lead since March 20, 2011.
  • The Irish were 22-0 in such games entering May 3. In fact, Notre Dame was 67-1-1 when leading after the eighth inning since the arrival of closer and All-American candidate Dan Slania in 2011.

IRISH STAFF PRETTY DARN GOOD AGAINST USF — Notre Dame dropped two of three to league-leading USF, but it had nothing to do with the pitching staff. The Irish allowed just five earned runs in 38.0 innings over the series – good for a 1.18 ERA. Notre Dame fanned 24 and walked seven. The Irish yielded only four extra-base hits the entire weekend. The Bulls registered a slugging percentage of .288.

  • The 1.18 ERA is the lowest for Notre Dame in a three-game BIG EAST series since March 20-22, 2008. The Irish posted a 0.67 ERA in a three-game sweep of Georgetown (two earned runs in 27.0 innings).
  • Despite playing a total of 38.0 innings in the series, Notre Dame was forced to use just seven different pitchers. USF, on the other hand, was forced to use 10 different pitchers. The Irish used only four in the first two games alone (29 innings).

IRISH STAFF MAKES YOU EARN IT — Notre Dame not only leads the BIG EAST in fewest walks per nine innings (2.56), but also ranks 14th in the NCAA. Notre Dame ranks third in the league in WHIP (1.27), which ranks 38th in the country. Louisville leads the league and ranks fifth in the NCAA in WHIP (1.07). The Irish (2.29), who rank 63rd in the nation, trail only the Cardinals (3.18, seventh in the NCAA) in the BIG EAST for the top strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Rank School G W-L IP BB PG
1. Cal State Fullerton 49 41-8 439.0 75 1.54
2. Central Arkansas 49 33-16 444.0 96 1.95
3. North Florida 51 35-16 469.2 112 2.15
4. William & Mary 51 32-19 446.1 107 2.16
5. South Carolina 51 37-14 455.0 117 2.31
6. Virginia 50 42-8 445.2 116 2.34
7. LSU 52 45-7 476.2 125 2.36
8. UC Irvine 47 31-16 420.2 112 2.40
9. Ohio State 51 33-18 461.1 124 2.42
10. San Francisco 52 31-21 472.2 129 2.46
14. Notre Dame 51 30-21 467.1 133 2.56
  • Notre Dame has walked two or less batters in 23 different games this season. The Irish have issued one free pass or less in 14 outings, including four games without a single walk.
  • As an entire staff, Notre Dame issued 160 walks in 511.2 innings in 2012. The Irish posted a 2.61 strikeout-to-walk ratio and averaged just 2.81 free passes per nine innings pitched.
  • Notre Dame walked two or less in 30 different games in 2012. The Irish did not walk a single batter in a game six times.
  • Here is the top five in a number of single-season pitching categories:
Rank SO/BB Ratio Year Rank BB Allowed/9 IP Year
1. 2.95 (504/171) 2006 1. 2.48 (151/547.2) 2001
2. 2.78 (420/151) 2001 2. 2.63 (162/554.2) 2004
3. 2.69 (436/162) 2004 3. 2.67 (143/481.2) 2011
4. 2.61 (417/160) 2012 4. 2.81 (160/511.2) 2012
5. 2.57 (368/143) 2011 5. 2.82 (161/513.0) 1994
2.29 (304/133) 2013 2.56 (133/467.1) 2013
  • Notre Dame led the BIG EAST in fewest walks in 2012. The Irish also led the league in the same category in 2011.
  • Notre Dame is one of 10 NCAA Division I schools that has averaged fewer than 3.00 walks per nine innings pitched over each of the last three seasons.
  • Notre Dame is one of four NCAA Division I schools that has ranked in the top 30 nationally in fewest walks per nine innings pitched over the last three seasons.
  • The Irish have averaged 2.69 free passes per nine innings over the last three years combined, which is only bested by Cal State Fullerton (1.93), Dartmouth (2.36), Valparaiso (2.52) and UC Irvine (2.66).
Rank School 2013 Walks/9 IP 2012 Walks/9 IP 2011 Walks/9 IP Total Walks/9 IP
1. Cal State Fullerton 1.54 1.87 2.33 1.93
2. Dartmouth 2.52 2.33 2.24 2.36
3. Valparaiso 2.52 2.29 2.79 2.52
4. UC Irvine 2.40 2.90 2.67 2.66
5. Notre Dame 2.59 2.81 2.67 2.69

MANCINI, JAGIELO FORM ARGUABLY THE NATION’S TOP HITTING DUO — Notre Dame junior All-American candidates Eric Jagielo and Trey Mancini have hit in the No. 3 and No. 4 spots in the Irish lineup since their freshman campaigns in 2011. The tandem has been downright destructive in 2013.

  • Jagielo and Mancini are one of four sets of teammates in the NCAA hitting above .385. The other tandems are Clayton Brown and Brent Graham of Campbell, Kyle Schwarber and Dustin DeMuth of Indiana and D.J. Peterson and Mitch Garver of New Mexico.
  • Jagielo and Mancini also rank first and second, respectively, in the BIG EAST in batting average. No players from the same school have finished the season ranked 1-2 in hitting since 2000. Darren Fenster and Joe B. Cirone of Rutgers batted .433 and .405, respectively, to league the conference.
  • The duo has combined to hit .392 (144-for-367) on the campaign with 69 runs scored, 30 doubles, seven triples, 14 home runs, 95 RBI and 230 total bases. Here is a quick look at how the tandem compares to the rest of the Irish in following offensive categories:
Category Jagielo/Mancini Rest of ND
Batting Average .392 .245
Slugging Percentage .627 .325
Total Bases 230 449
Home Runs 14 9
Runs Scored 69 189
RBI 95 145
Hits 144 338
Sacrifice Flies 13 21
Category Jagielo/Mancini % of ND
Runs Scored 69 26.7
Hits 144 29.9
Doubles 30 34.1
Triples 7 35.0
Home Runs 14 60.9
RBI 95 39.6
Total Bases 230 33.9

NO JAGIELO, SOMETHING NEW FOR THE IRISH — Notre Dame 3B and All-American candidate Eric Jagielo missed the first game of his three-year career on May 4. He had started each of Notre Dame’s previous 156 games. Jagielo had batted third in the order since the very first game of his career in 2011. In fact, the Irish featured someone other than Jagielo in the No. 3 hole for the first time since May 22, 2010.

  • Notre Dame sophomore Ryan Bull batted third on May 4 against USF, while junior 1B and All-American candidate Trey Mancini manned the spot against the Bulls on May 5.
  • Notre Dame sophomore Phil Mosey manned the hot corner on May 4, but Mancini made his first career appearance at third base on May 5. Mancini had not played third base since his freshman year of high school.

JAGIELO EARNS RAVE REVIEWS — Third-year Notre Dame head coach Mik Aoki raved about the hitting prowess of junior 3B Eric Jagielo as a rookie in 2011, but the Downers Grove, Ill., native had an up-and-down first year. Jagielo batted .269 with 13 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 28 RBI, but has taken off the last two seasons.

  • Jim Callis of Baseball America recently posted his initial 2013 MLB First-Year Player mock draft. He projected Jagielo to get chosen by the New York Yankees with the 26th overall selection of the first round.
  • Only six players in the country have both a higher batting average (.385) and more home runs (eight) than Jagielo.
  • Jagielo was named by USA Baseball to its 60-man midseason Golden Spikes Award watch list for the top amateur baseball player in the country. He leads the BIG EAST in slugging percentage (.633) and on-base percentage (.502), and ranks second in the league in batting average (.385). No player has led the conference in hitting, slugging and on-base in the same season since Sean McGowan (.430/.916/.505) of Boston College in 1999. He also ranks tied for third in the league in home runs (eight), sixth in doubles (16), eighth in total bases (107), tied for eighth in sacrifice flies (five), tied for eighth in walks (30), tied for eighth in RBI (44), tied for ninth in hits (65) and tied for 10th in runs scored (42).
  • Jagielo could become the first Notre Dame player since Craig Cooper in 2006 (.425) to bat .400 over the course of an entire season. He would become the 10th player in the 120-year history of Irish baseball to accomplish the feat. Jagielo ranks second on the team in multi-hit games (19) and leads the club in multi-RBI outings (12). He has been held hitless in just seven of his 49 games played this year. He has failed to reach base in a game just twice all year.
  • Jagielo had started every game of his Irish career – a span of 156 games dating back to the start of 2011 – before missing two games against USF. He had hit in the three hole from the start.
  • Jagielo is a career .317 hitter with 26 home runs and 112 RBI in 160 games. Here is a look at his career statistics.
Year avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb ob%
2011 .269 53-53 201 32 54 13 1 5 28 84 418 25 .355
2012 .310 58-58 229 33 71 15 0 13 43 125 .546 28 .399
2013 .385 49-49 169 42 65 16 1 8 44 107 .633 30 .502
TOTAL .317 160-160 599 107 190 44 2 26 115 316 .528 83 .417
  • Jagielo has been named either BIG EAST Player of the Week (Mar. 11) or to the league honor roll (Feb. 18, Feb. 25 and Mar. 18) a total of four times this season.
  • Jagielo batted .500 (7-for-14) over the back half of the California trip, including .545 (6-for-11) in the series victory at No. 20 Cal Poly. He collected a double, home run, two RBI and scored three runs in the series with the Mustangs. Jagielo added a pair of walks, and registered a slugging percentage of .909 and on-base percentage of .615. He recorded multi-hit games in each of the three games in the series. Jagielo went 2-for-4 with a run scored, double and RBI single in the opener. He then went 2-for-4 in Notre Dame’s 1-0 triumph in the second game of the weekend and closed the series with a solo home run, two walks and two runs scored (2-for-3) in the series finale.
  • Jagielo was named BIG EAST player of the week on Mar. 11. He batted only .286 (4-for-14) in his three games against No. 7 UCLA, USC and No. 10 Oklahoma, but two of his four hits left the ball park and each tied the game. Jagielo smacked a sixth-inning solo home run off the scoreboard in right centerfield that squared the game with the Trojans, 1-1, and then blasted a towering two-run shot in the fifth inning that nearly cleared the UCLA hitting building in right centerfield and tied the Sooners, 4-4. Jagielo now leads the Irish in home runs (five) and RBI (17). All five of Jagielo’s home runs have come in the fifth inning or later and four has either given Notre Dame the lead or tied the game.
  • Jagielo batted .444 (4-for-9) with a double, home run, two runs scored and four RBI in the three-game sweep of Tulane. He registered a slugging percentage of .889 and on-base percentage of .462. Jagielo provided all the offense the Irish would need in Friday night’s 2-1 victory. He smacked a two-run home run in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie. Jagielo went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly in the 3-1 triumph on Saturday and finished the weekend with a multi-hit game on Sunday. Jagielo went 2-for-4 in the series finale with another sacrifice fly.
  • Jagielo batted .545 (6-for-11) for the weekend with a double, two home runs and eight RBI. His batting average was the fifth-best by an Irish player over the season’s opening weekend since 1995 and none of the previous four players with a higher batting average had multiple home runs. Jagielo posted a slugging percentage of 1.182, on-base percentage of .667 and OPS of 1.849.
  • Jagielo opened the season with a 2-for-4 effort against Florida Gulf Coast, including a massive two-run home run to centerfield in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game, 5-5, before Notre Dame won in the bottom of the 10th. He followed up that performance with a three-hit game in a 13-3 rout of Ohio State. Jagielo went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a three-run home run and career-high five RBI. He was named Perfect Game’s top player across the nation from Saturday’s contests.

TREY “BOOM-BOOM” MANCINI — Notre Dame 1B and All-American candidate Trey Mancini has been out of this world in the last month or so. He enters this weekend with a 19-game hitting streak, including multiple hits in 14 of the last 15 outings. Mancini was named the NCBWA National Hitter of the Week on April 30. He went 15-for-20 (.750) during last week. In fact, Mancini had hits in 18 of 22 at bats at once stretch.

  • Here is a look at Mancini of late:

Last 17 Games: .568 (42-for-74), 18 R, 11 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 21 RBI, .905 Slug., .590 OB
19-Game Hitting Streak: .543 (44-for-81), 19 R, 11 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 22 RBI, .852 Slug., .571 OB
Month of April: .446 (34-for-73), 13 R, 5 2B, 3 3B, HR, 24 RBI, .658 Slug., .494 OB
Since April 1 (27 games): .464 (52-for-112), 21 R, 11 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 32 RBI, .714 Slug., .500 OB
Last 45 Games: .412 (73-for-177), 26 R, 14 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 46 RBI, .621 Slug., .456 OB

  • Mancini could become the first Notre Dame player since Craig Cooper in 2006 (.425) to bat .400 over the course of an entire season. He would become the 10th player in the 120-year history of Irish baseball to accomplish the feat. Mancini leads Notre Dame in multi-hit outings (24) and ranks second in multi-RBI games (10). He has been held hitless in just eight of 50 games.
  • Mancini was named both NCBWA National Hitter of the Week and BIG EAST Player of the Week on April 29. He batted .750 (15-for-20) with five runs scored, three doubles and five RBI in five games against Toledo, Michigan State and Connecticut. Mancini also added a walk and sacrifice fly. He registered a .900 slugging percentage and .727 on-base percentage. Mancini actually went hitless in his first two at bats last week before collecting base hits over his next 10 plate appearances. In all, he went 15 for his last 18 last week.
  • Mancini batted .750 (9-for-12) with three runs scored, one double and three RBI in the sweep of the Huskies. He had multiple hits in all five games.
  • Mancini is now hitting .399 on the season with 16 doubles, six triples, six home runs and 51 RBI. Here is where Mancini ranks in a number of offensive cateogries in the BIG EAST:
BIG EAST Category Stat Rank
Batting Average .399 1st
Total Bases 123 1st
Hits 79 1st
Sac Flies 8 2nd
Triples 6 2nd
Slugging Percentage .621 2nd
Home Runs 6 t-4th
RBI 51 t-4th
On-Base Percentage .443 6th
  • Mancini was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on April 8. He batted .368 (7-for-19) in five games for Notre Dame. He scored two runs, hit a grand slam and drove in 10 in games against UIC, Valparaiso and Villanova. Mancini collected six RBI, including a go-ahead and eventual gamewinning grand slam in an 11-8 victory over Villanova on April 6. With the Irish trailing 6-5, Mancini crushed a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Irish a 9-6 lead. The six RBI was just one off the Notre Dame school record of seven set on seven previous occasions, most recently by Steve Sollman in 2002. Mancini opened the week with the first four-hit game of his career. He registered three multi-RBI outings. Mancini also played flawless defense. He did not make an error in 57 fielding chances, including five double plays.
  • Mancini is a career .346 hitter with 27 home runs and 130 RBI in 157 games. Here is a look at his career statistics.
Year avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb ob%
2011 .323 53-52 189 33 61 15 3 9 34 1 09 .577 19 .385
2012 .317 54-54 202 47 64 10 0 12 45 110 .545 22 .395
2013 .399 50-50 198 27 79 16 6 6 51 123 .621 20 .443
TOTAL .346 157-156 589 107 204 39 9 27 130 342 .581 61 .408
  • Mancini carried the Irish offensively at the USA Baseball-Irish Classic. He was injured in his final at bat of the victory over Massachusetts and missed the game against Tennessee, but did not miss a beat against No. 25 Virginia Tech. Mancini provided all of Notre Dame’s offense in a 3-0 victory. He drilled a two-run home run and added an RBI single.
  • Mancini added a three-run round tripper in the rout of the Minutemen. In all, he batted .385 (5-for-13) over the weekend with two home runs and six RBI. Mancini registered a .846 slugging percentage. He also played flawless defense over the weekend. Mancini did not commit an error in 25 fielding chances.
  • Mancini was named 2011 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year after leading Notre Dame in batting (.323), hits (61), doubles (15), triples (three), home runs (nine), RBI (34), total bases (109), slugging percentage (.577), on-base percentage (.385), multiple hit games (17), multiple RBI games (nine) and runs scored (33).
  • Mancini was the first Irish rookie and eighth player in program history to lead Notre Dame in all three triple-crown categories (batting average, home runs and RBI). He also was named third team all-BIG EAST and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.

SLANIA SIMPLY THE BEST — Notre Dame junior RHP Dan Slania is one of the top closers in college baseball. He has already been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award midseason watch list and the USA Baseball 60-man midseason Golden Spikes Award watch list.

  • Slania displayed one of the gutsiest pitching performances in school history on May 3, yet it went for naught. The right-handed hurler, who allowed a two-out, game-tying two-run double in the top of the ninth inning that tied the score, 2-2, rebounded with 7.1 consecutive scoreless innings afterwards. Slania retired 21 of the last 23 USF batters he faced.
  • The defeat was Notre Dame’s first when taking a lead to the ninth inning in 2013. In fact, the Irish had not blown a ninth-inning lead since March 20, 2011. The Irish were 22-0 in such games. In fact, Notre Dame was 67-1-1 when leading after the eighth inning since the arrival of Slania in 2011.
  • In all, Slania tossed 9.0 innings of relief and limited the Bulls to a pair of earned runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked two.
  • Slania is 3-1 on the season with a league-best 12 saves (in 14 chances) and a sparkling 1.10 earned-run average. Slania has allowed just 36 hits in 49.0 innings of work over 21 relief appearances. His foes have registered a .202 batting average. Slania has fanned 37 and walked 10. He has only allowed six three earned runs all season.
  • Slania, who already owns the Notre Dame career record for saves with 29 and was named the Cape Cod League’s top closer this past summer, is four shy of equaling the single-season record as well (Kyle Weiland, 16, 2006). He collected 13 as a sophomore in 2012. Slania also holds the lowest career ERA in school history (minimum of 60 innings pitched). His 1.71 ERA is far below the previous mark of 2.20 held by Mike Dury (2004-07).
  • Only one pitcher in the BIG EAST with at least 5.0 innings of work has an ERA lower than Slania. He is tied for the conference lead and ranks 15th in the NCAA in saves. Slania ranks tied for second in the league in games finished (19).
  • Slania has allowed just six earned runs over his last 57.0 innings of work (32 relief appearances) for an ERA of 0.95.
  • Slania ranks seventh among all active NCAA pitchers in saves.

Active NCAA Pitchers – Career Saves

Player Cl. App SV
1. Pat Christensen, La Salle Sr. 102 44
2. Brett Huber, Ole Miss Sr. 91 37
Corey Knebel, Texas Jr. 90 37
Jimmie Sherfy, Oregon Jr. 71 37
5. Tyler Rogers, Austin Peay Sr. 72 31
Michael Lorenzen, Cal St. Fullerton Jr. 37 31
7. Dan Slania, Notre Dame Jr. 75 29
Caleb Dudley, Louisiana Tech Sr. 108 29
Jordan Dailey, Bethune-Cookman Sr. 110 29
10. John Colella, Holy Cross Sr. 85 28
  • Slania’s 1.71 career ERA is the best in school history for a pitcher with at least 60.0 innings pitched. In fact, he ranks seventh in career ERA among all active NCAA pitchers with at least 75.0 innings of work.

Active NCAA Pitchers – Career ERA (minimum 75.0 IP)

Player Cl. App IP ERA
1. David Berg, UCLA So. 85 130.1 1.10
2. Ross Mitchell, Mississippi State So. 47 101.1 1.24
3. Thomas Eshelman, Cal State Fullerton Fr. 13 88.2 1.42
4. Colby Suggs, Arkansas Jr. 61 75.2 1.43
5. Andrew Moore, Oregon State Fr. 13 85.0 1.48
6. Jimmy Herget, USF Fr. 13 81.1 1.66
7. Dan Slania, Notre Dame Jr. 75 110.2 1.71
8. Joe Goodman, High Point So. 50 78.1 1.72
9. Hobbs Johnson, North Carolina Jr. 40 120.0 1.72
10. Preston Morrison, TCU So. 35 208.0 1.73

Notre Dame Single-Season Saves

Player (Year) SV
1. Kyle Weiland (2006) 16
2. Dan Slania (2012) 13
J.P. Gagne (2003) 13
4. Dan Slania (2013) 12
5. Ryan Doherty (2004) 12
John Corbin (2000) 11
7. Mike Coffey (1989) 10
8. Aaron Heilman (1998) 9
John Corbin (1999) 9
10. Three tied with 7

Notre Dame Career Saves

Player (Years) SV
1. Dan Slania (2011-) 29
2. Kyle Weiland (2006-08) 25
3. John Corbin (1997-2000) 20
Ryan Doherty (2003-05) 20
5. J.P. Gagne (2000-03) 19
6. Mike Coffey (1988-90) 12
Chris Michalak (1990-93) 12
Aaron Heilman (1998-2001) 12
9. Larry Mohs (1994-97) 10
10. Two tied with 9

Notre Dame Career ERA

Player (Years) ERA (ER/IP)
1. Dan Slania (2011-) 1.71 (21/110.2)
2. Mike Dury (2004-07) 2.20 (20/81.2)
3. Nick Palihnich (1959-61) 2.36 (39/148.2)
4. Jack Mitchell (1959-61) 2.49 (41/148.1)
5. Aaron Heilman (1998-2001) 2.49 (109/393.2)
6. Larry Mohs (1994-97) 2.52 (33/117.2)
7. Brandon Viloria (2000-03) 2.58 (24/83.2)
8. Phil Donnelly (1961-63) 2.64 (33/112.2)
9. Ryan Doherty (2003-05) 2.84 (31/98.1)
10. Tom Price (1991-94) 2.84 (123/390.0)

Notre Dame Career Appearances

Player (Years) App
1. J.P. Gagne (2000-03) 94
2. Chris Michalak (1990-93) 92
3. Aaron Heilman (1998-2001) 83
4. Will Hudgins (2009-12) 78
5. Dan Slania (2011-) 75
6. Mike Coffey (1987-90) 73
7. Mike Dury (2004-07) 72
8. Tom Price (1991-94) 71
9. Alan Walania (1990-93) 70
10. Three tied with 69
  • Slania has been outstanding as a closer/late inning reliever over his three years with the Irish. He owns a career record of 8-4 with a 1.71 ERA and 29 saves.
Year era w-l app gs cg sho sv ip h r er bb so b/avg
2011 2.35 2-3 23 0 0 0/4 4 30.2 28 12 8 9 20 .252
2012 2.03 3-0 31 0 0 0/2 13 31.0 36 10 7 12 37 .300
2013 1.10 3-1 21 0 0 0/1 12 49.0 36 10 6 10 37 .202
Total 1.71 8-4 75 0 0 0/7 29 110.2 100 32 21 31 94 .244
  • Slania is even tougher against BIG EAST foes.
Year era w-l app gs cg sho sv ip h r er bb so b/avg
2011 0.75 2-1 7 0 0 0/1 1 12.0 10 2 1 2 6 .233
2012 1.26 2-0 14 0 0 0/1 7 14.1 15 3 2 8 20 .283
2013 2.10 1-1 9 0 0 0/0 4 25.2 23 10 6 7 19 .232
Total 1.56 5-2 30 0 0 0/2 12 52.0 48 15 9 17 45 .246
  • Slania owns the fifth-lowest ERA in BIG EAST conference history (minimum of 36.0 innings pitched.

BIG EAST Career Pitching Leaders By ERA (minimum 36.0 IP)

Player Years G GS IP ERA
1. Matt Dalton, Virginia Tech 2001-03 27 0 37.1 1.21
2. Scott Oberg, Connecticut 2009-10, 12 33 0 58.0 1.24
3. Justin Muir, St. John’s 2004-06 23 0 42.1 1.28
4. George Fernandez, Seton Hall 2009, 11-12 32 0 42.0 1.29
5. Dan Slania, Notre Dame 2011- 30 0 52.0 1.56
6. Pete Walker, Connecticut 1989-90 12 12 82.2 1.85
7. C.J. Nitkowski, St. John’s 1993-94 15 12 102.2 1.93
8. Andrew Barbosa, USF 2010, 12 17 17 110.2 1.95
9. Rich Scheid, Seton Hall 1985-86 14 14 85.2 2.10
10. Kevin Morton, Seton Hall 1987-89 15 12 97.1 2.13
  • Slania picked up his league-leading 12th save of the season on May 11 against St. John’s. He allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits in 4.0 innings of work. Two of the base hits were fly balls that Irish fielder’s lost in the sun and a third was a routine ground ball that took a wicked hop over Lane Richards’ head at shortstop.
  • Slania did not allow an earned run over his first 22.1 innings this season. He then threw 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings before his outing against USF on May 3.
  • Slania was named to the BIG EAST honor roll on April 29. He picked up a pair of saves in three scoreless relief appearances over 5.0 innings of work last week. He set a school record with his 26th career save in the victory against Michigan State. The right-handed hurler retired six of the eight Spartans he faced en route to his ninth save of the season. He did yield a base hit and walk, but retired the final four batters of the game.
  • Slania picked up a pair of multiple-inning saves of the doubleheader sweep of Seton Hall on Mar. 23 that helped the Irish take two of three from the Pirates. Slania tossed a combined 3.1 scoreless innings of relief (1.1 in opener and 2.0 in nightcap) and collected his sixth and seventh saves of the season as Notre Dame collected a pair of 3-2 victories.
  • Slania entered the opener of the twin bill with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Notre Dame clinging to a 3-2 lead and the potential tying run at third base. He got a pop out to end the threat. Slania then worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to secure the triumph. In the night cap, Slania came into the game with runners on second and third, no outs and proceeded to retire the next three Pirates to end the threat, including stranding the potential tying run at third base. He then allowed a one-out single in the ninth, but got a ground out to end the game with the tying run once again in scoring position.
  • Slania registered saves on back-to-back days to secure the series victory at No. 20 Cal Poly. He was asked to get the final six outs of the series finale with the Irish clinging to a one-run lead. Slania did surrender a leadoff single to open the bottom of the eighth inning, but retired the final six Mustangs of the game to seal the victory.
  • In the 1-0 victory over No. 20 Cal Poly on Mar. 15, Slania allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, but collected consecutive strikeouts and enduced a pop out to secure the triumph.
  • Slania picked up a victory and save as the Irish collected a pair of victories at the Dodgertown Classic in early March. Slania earned the save in a 2-1 victory over USC and the win in a 6-5 triumph over No. 10 Oklahoma. Slania combined to throw 5.1 scoreless innings of relief over his two outings against the Trojans and Sooners. He allowed just three hits and limited USC and Oklahoma to a .167 opponent’s batting average. Slania struck out three and did not issue a walk.
  • u Slania picked up the save with 2.0 scoreless innings against USC. He retired the first four Trojans before working out of a jam in the ninth inning. With the Irish clinging to a 2-1 lead, he allowed back-to-back, one-out singles that placed the tying run on third base and winning run on first base. Slania the induced a game-ending double play when he caught a popped up bunt and doubled off the runner at third base.
  • Slania earned the victory in Notre Dame’s 6-5 victory over No. 10 Oklahoma. He logged 3.1 scoreless innings of relief. Slania struck out two and limited the Sooners to one base hit.
  • Slania picked up the victory in relief against Tennessee on Mar. 1. He tossed 3.1 perfect innings of relief – retiring all 10 Volunteers he faced. Slania also fanned three.
  • Slania captured the 2012 Russ Ford Award (given to the top relief pitcher in the Cape Cod League). He led the Cape with 10 saves and helped Cotuit post the league’s best regular-season record (30-14). Slania went 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA and 39 punch outs.
  • Slania’s 31 appearances in 2012 are tied for the second-most in single-season school history. It was the most appearances by an Irish hurler since Aaron Heilman had 31 in 1998.

Single-Season Appearances

1. Mike Coffey (1989) 37
2. Dan Slania (2012) 31
Aaron Heilman (1998) 31
4. John Corbin (2000) 30
J.P. Gagne (2003) 30
Ryan Doherty (2004) 30
Kyle Weiland (2006) 30
8. Joe Thaman (2004) 29
9. Chris Michalak (1990) 28
John Corbin (1999) 28
J.P. Gagne (2002) 28
Dan Kapala (2004) 28

THOUGH SHALL NOT ISSUE A FREE PASS — Notre Dame senior RHP Adam Norton if off to one of the best starts by an Irish starting pitcher in school history. He enters the series with a 9-3 record and 2.00 ERA. Norton ranks second in the BIG EAST in innings pitched (99.0), tied for the league lead in victories and ranks fifth in ERA. He ranks seventh in the NCAA in innings pitched and tied for 17th in the NCAA in victories. Norton’s nine victories this season are the most by a Notre Dame hurler since Jeff Manship had nine (9-2) in 2006.

  • Norton has collected 11 quality starts this season and has gone at least 7.0 innings in 11 of his 13 outings this year.
  • Norton was dealt a cruel defeat on May 4. He limited USF to a pair of earned runs over a career-best 10.0 innings of work. Norton struck out six, walked just one (an intentional free pass) and scattered 12 hits (11 singles). He tossed 122 pitches, including a remarkable 95 for strikes.
  • After USF grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, Norton took over. He retired 18 of the next 22 Bulls, including 13 straight at one point.
  • Norton became the first Irish pitcher to log at least 10.0 innings in a game since Aaron Heilmann went 10.0 against West Virginia on April 15, 2000 (Heilmann set a BIG EAST record with 18 strikeouts in that outing).
  • Norton has a pair of victories over top-25 opponents this season. He has yet to allow a single run in 17.0 innings of work against No. 25 Virginia Tech and No. 20 Cal Poly.
  • Over the last two seasons in the Notre Dame weekend rotation (28 starts), Norton has worked into the seventh inning 20 different times. He has also registered 18 quality starts.
  • Norton has made 35 starts over his career and walked more than one batter on just seven occasions.
  • Norton has thrown two complete-game shutouts this season (on Mar. 2 vs. Virginia Tech and April 20 vs. Quinnipiac). He is the first Irish pitcher to throw multiple complete-game shutouts in the same season since 2001. Aaron Heilman and Danny Tamayo each collected three in ’01.
  • Norton tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout of No. 25 Virginia Tech on Mar. 2. He collected Notre Dame’s first complete-game shutout over a top-25 opponent since Danny Tamayo blanked Mississippi State in the Starkville Regional on May 28, 2000. The right-handed hurler completely baffled a Virginia Tech lineup that entered the game with a .337-team batting average and averaged 8.3 runs/game.
  • Norton opened the season with a 6-0 record. He was the first Irish pitcher to pick up a victory in each of his first six starts to open a year since Aaron Heilman in 2001.
  • With one more victory, Norton would become the first Irish pitcher since Aaron Heilman in 2001 to collect 10 or more wins in a single season. Heilman went 15-0 in ’01.

Single-Season Victories

1. Aaron Heilman (2001) 15-0
2. Tom Price (1994) 14-5
3. Tom Price (1993) 12-2
4. Aaron Heilman (1999) 11-2
Brian Piotrowicz (1989) 11-4
Alan Walania (1991) 11-5
Chris Michalak (1993) 11-5
8. Hugh Mageveney (1924) 10
Frank Scanlan (1908) 10-0
Aaron Heilman (2000) 10-2
David Sinnes (1993) 10-3
Erik Madsen (1989) 10-4
Chris Michalak (1992) 10-5
  • Norton was once again spectacular on the mound against No. 20 Cal Poly. The right-handed hurler tossed 8.0 scoreless innings and kept a potent Mustangs’ lineup off-balance all night. Norton threw 103 pitches, 76 for strikes, and scattered seven hits. He struck out five and walked only one – an unintentional-intentional free pass in the sixth inning. Norton made every big pitch when it counted. He limited the Mustangs to just a pair of hits with a runner on base, retired the leadoff batter in seven of his eight innings and did not allow a single hit with a runner in scoring position (Mustangs went 0-for-8).
  • Norton limited the USC to an earned run on five hits in 7.0 innings of work (Mar. 9). He struck out three and walked one. Norton dropped his season ERA to 1.61 with his third quality start.
  • Norton retired the first 10 Hokies of the game before a one-out single in the fourth inning. He promptly sent down the next six Virginia Tech hitters before a bunt single in the top of the sixth inning. Norton did not allow another base runner until two outs in the top of the ninth inning – another stretch of 10 consecutive retired Hokies. He was one out away from a two-hit shutout, but Virginia Tech rallied in the ninth inning.
  • The Hokies got back-to-back singles to bring the potential tying run to the plate. All that stood in between Norton and the victory, complete game and shutout was Virginia Tech slugger Tyler Moran, who set the Cape Cod League record with 16 home runs this past summer. Norton got Moran to pop out to the catcher to end the game. He struck out five and walked one. Norton faced 32 batters and needed just 108 pitches (76 strikes).
  • Norton led the NCAA in fewest walks per nine innings (0.64) and ranked third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.71) in 2012. Both totals topped the BIG EAST categories as well. Norton fanned 61 and issued seven free passes (two intentional) in 98.0 innings of work.
  • Norton was just shy of the school record for fewest walks per nine innings pitched.
  • Norton also owns the school record in both fewest career walks per nine innings pitched and strikeout-to-walk ratio.
  • Norton ranks sixth in the NCAA for fewest career walks per nine innings pitched among active pitchers. In fact, he is one of only two pitchers with at least 200 career innings ranked among the top 10 and one of eight with at least 200 career innings ranked among the top 50.

Active NCAA Pitchers – Fewest Career Walks Per 9 IP (min. 100.0 IP)

Player CL App IP BB Avg
1. Thomas Eshelman, Cal State Fullerton Fr. 13 88.2 2 0.20
2. Aaron Nola, LSU So. 32 184.2 20 0.97
3. Koby Gauna, Cal State Fullerton So. 38 112.0 13 1.04
4. Chris Cotton, LSU Sr. 95 113.0 15 1.20
5. Preston Morrison, TCU So. 35 208.0 28 1.21
6. Adam Norton, Notre Dame Sr. 51 265.2 36 1.22
7. Dillon Newman, Baylor Jr. 44 135.2 19 1.26
8. Cameron White, Air Force Jr. 42 212.1 30 1.27
9. Brian McAfee, Cornell So. 20 122.0 18 1.33
10. Jaron Long, Ohio State Jr. 30 187.0 28 1.35

CONNAUGHTON FINDING HIS MARK — Sophomore RHP Pat Connaughton has been awfully good over his last couple of starts against USF and St. John’s. He has tossed 11.0 scoreless innings and limited those two foes to just seven hits. Connaughton has limited his opponents to a .179 batting average along the way.

  • Connaughton has not allowed a run in 15.0 consecutive innings dating back to his April 26 start against Connecticut.
  • Connaughton did not factor in the decision at St. John’s in the second game of the series when it was haulted after four innings due to rain. He had fanned five and allowed just two hits in 4.0 innings.
  • Connaughton was spectacular in a no-decision against league-leading USF on May 3. He tossed 7.0 scoreless innings and limited the Bulls to five hits, all singles. Connaughton struck out three and walked four.
  • Connaughton worked into the seventh inning for the first time this season and collected his first quarlity start of the year.
  • Connaughton is 2-2 with a 2.29 ERA this season. He has allowed 31 hits in 35.1 innings of work. Connaughton has struck out 22 and walked 23.
  • Rated by Baseball America as the No. 8 overall prospect in the BIG EAST entering the 2013 season (second highest rated player in the league among 2014 draft-eligible players)
  • Rated by Perfect Game as the No. 38 sophomore prospect.
  • Rated by Perfect Game as the No. 2 sophomore prospect in the BIG EAST.
  • Connaughton improved to 2-2 on the season in his outing against Connecticut on April 28. He limited the Huskies to a pair of earned runs on five hits in 5.1 innings of work. Connaughton struck out four and walked three. He enduced six fly outs and four ground outs. Connaughton tossed 77 pitches, 49 for strikes (63.6%).
  • Last spring, Connaughton appeared in 12 games, 10 starts, and posted a 4-4 record with a 3.18 earned-run average. He logged 45.1 innings on the mound and registered 40 strikeouts.
  • Connaughton was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 38th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
  • Connaughton, who started all 35 games for the hoops team in 2012-13, was named to the BIG EAST Championship All-Tournament Team. He was 15-of-24 (.625) from three-point range and averaged a team-best 16.0 points-per-game during the three games of the tournament. He also averaged 4.3 rebounds per game.
  • The 15 three-pointers are the fourth-most for a single BIG EAST Championship.
  • Connaughton was 6-of-8 from beyond the arc en-route to a season-high 21 points in the second-round victory over Rutgers. He was 6-of-9 from distance in the quarterfinal win over Marquette. He finished with a game-high 18 points against the Golden Eagles. He was 3-of-6 from distance versus Louisville in the semifinals.
  • The six treys tied the most for any Notre Dame player in a game this season.
  • The performance against Rutgers was the fourth 20-plus point effort of Connaughton’s career (first this season).

RATHER FRANK EVERYDAY — Senior co-captain 2B Frank Desico is a three-year monogram winner that has started 207 of Notre Dame’s last 209 games. He has hit in the leadoff spot in all but one game this season and 128 times over his career.

  • DeSico earned Dean’s List for the first time with a 3.778 GPA over 17.5 credit hours in the ’12 fall semester.
  • Among NCAA active players, DeSico ranks 14th in the career at bats (845), 45th in career base hits (236) and 49th in career games played (210).
  • DeSico recently set a school record for career fielding assists.

Career Fielding Assists

1. Frank Desico (2010-) 658
2. Steve Sollmann (2001-04) 629
3. J.J. Brock (1994-98) 619
4. Pat Pesavento (1986-89) 617
5. Greg Lopez (2003-06) 584
6. Brett Lilley (2005-08) 571
7. Alec Porzel (1998-2001) 562
8. Jeremy Barnes (2006-09) 556
9. Mike Coss (1988-91) 510
10. Craig Counsell (1989-92) 493
  • DeSico ranks fifth in school history for career at bats.

Career At Bats

1. Steve Stanley (1999-2002) 1,003
2. Alec Porzel (1998-2001) 897
3. J.J. Brock (1994-98) 860
4. Jeremy Barnes (2006-09) 856
5. Frank Desico (2010-) 845
6. Steve Sollmann (2001-04) 840
7. Brett Lilley (2005-08) 816
8. Paul O’Toole (1999-2002) 809
9. Pat Pesavento (1986-89) 806
10. Craig Counsell (1989-92) 795

BULLISH EFFORT — Sophomore LF/DH Ryan Bull is hitting .335 this season with 64 hits (third best on the team), as well as two home runs and 36 RBI. He spent the first five games of the year in the No. 5 hole, but moved into the No. 2 spot and exploded for a career-best four hits in the series finale at Tulane on Feb. 24. He went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, one coming on his first home run of the season and second of his career.

  • Bull had a trio of three-hit games and a four-hit outing over Notre Dame’s first 17 contests of the season.
  • Bull moved back intom the No. 5 spot in the lineup of March 22 and has collected 30 RBI over the last 34 games, which is the second most of any Irish player over that span.
  • Bull drove in a career-best five against Villanova on April 7.
  • Bull has rasied his batting average 81 points from his rookie campaign in 2012 (.254).

NOTABLE ALUMNI — Notre Dame’s 901 baseball monogram winners include several in successful administrative careers: recently retired Notre Dame Alumni Association executive director Chuck Lennon (C; 1960-61); former Notre Dame assistant vice president for special events Jim Gibbons (P/OF; 1952-53); former U.S. Congressman from Ohio Ron Mottl (RHP; 1955); former Mid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst (OF; 1981-83); former Xavier associate vice president/athletic director and current Georgia Tech athletic director Mike Bobinski (P; 1978-79); recent Indiana governor Joe Kernan (C; 1967-68); Major League Baseball executive John McHale (1B; 1943); and former Notre Dame athletics director Dick Rosenthal (1B; 1952-53).

MLB CONNECTIONS — In addition to several current Major League players who honed their craft with the Irish baseball program, a number of Notre Dame graduates have served as top executives in Major League Baseball: Cleveland Indians owner and CEO Lawrence Dolan (’54, ’56 Notre Dame Law), Indians president Paul Dolan (’83), MLB senior VP of operations/former Arizona Diamondbacks GM/VP Joe Garagiola, Jr. (’72), Oakland A’s president Mike Crowley (’85), retired Los Angeles Dodgers VP of External Affairs Tommy Hawkins (’59, Notre Dame basketball star), MLB Executive VP of Administration John McHale (’71), MLB Director of Special Events Brian O’Gara (’89) and former Tampa Bay owner/CEO/VP Vince Naimoli (’59).

  • Brad Lidge ranked as one of MLB’s top rookies in his first full season with the Houston Astros and was the winning pitcher in the historic no-hitter versus the New York Yankees on June 11, 2003 – the first no hitter versus the Yankees since 1958 (6,980 games). Lidge set the NL record for strikeouts by a reliever in 2004 and currently pitches for the Washington Nationals. Six other recent Irish hurlers have pitched in MLB, including Aaron Heilman (’01) with the N.Y. Mets, Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks, Jeff Samardzija (’06) with the Chicago Cubs, Jeff Manship (’06) with the Minnesota Twins, John Axford with the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers, Christian Parker and David Phelps with the Yankees and(Kyle Weiland (’09) with the Boston Red Sox, while two early-1990s Notre Dame players – INF Craig Counsell (’92) and LHP Chris Michalak (’93) – have played for multiple MLB teams.
  • Notre Dame had seven former players appear in a MLB game in 2012, including Axford (Brewers), Lidge (Phillies), Manship (Twins), Samardzija (Cubs), Weiland (Red Sox), Phelps (Yankees) and A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks).
  • The remaining 10 members of the BIG EAST Conference had 14 former players participate in a MLB game in 2012.
  • Phelps (’08) made his big league debut for the New York Yankees on Apr. 8, 2012, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Phelps then tossed 2.1 perfect innings of relief with four strikeouts against the Baltimore Orioles on Apr. 10.
  • Pollock (’09) made his big league debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Apr. 18, 2012, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He started in centerfield and batted seventh in the order.
  • A total of 73 all-time former Notre Dame players have suited up in a MLB uniform – more than any other BIG EAST school and tied for fifth-most in Division I history.

Hardwood to the Diamond — Jean Dubuc was one of the top players on Notre Dame’s third varsity basketball team in 1907. He later pitched nine years in Major League Baseball. As a baseball scout, he signed future Detroit Tigers’ Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg. In 1909, Clement Ulatowski was a starter for the Irish hoops squad. He became a MLB catcher and played in Weeghman Park before it was named Wrigley Field.

  • Rupert Mills and Dutch Bergman were team stalwarts for NVM from 1912-14. Each reached MLB. In 1914, they became the first two Notre Dame men to earn four varsity monograms in the same academic year. Only two other Irish athletes have earned that distinction, George Ratterman and Johnny Lujack.
  • Joe Jachym was a two-time basketball captain in the late 1920s (including the 1927 Helms’ Foundation National Championship team). After his Minor League baseball career ended, Jachym became the batting practice pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.
  • Lancelot Yank Terry came to Notre Dame to play basketball in the early 1930s, but was cut from the squad. He went out for the baseball team as a shortstop and was also cut. Ten years later, he was a pitcher in MLB. Around that same time, Billy Reed came to Notre Dame. He left Notre Dame after one year, but played Pro Basketball in the late 1940s and was a second baseman for the Boston Braves in 1952.
  • Jim Gibbons was a three year starter at guard for Notre Dame (1950-52). He was also a pitcher/outfielder on the diamond. One of his two-sport teammates was Dick Rosenthal, who later played in the NBA. A few years after graduation, Gibbons was the part-time assistant coach for both basketball and baseball. He was the primary recruiter for both teams. Partly because of his own two-sport background and partly because baseball had only two scholarships to divide up to fill their roster, Gibbons looked for basketball players who could also play baseball.
  • Gibbons came up with his best recruit for the class of 1961 … a guy named Carl Yastrzemski. He was a shortstop in baseball but actually thought he was a better basketball player (as a sweet-shooting guard). Gibbons and “Yaz” remain friends to this day, taking long fishing trips every summer. A half dozen years ago, Yastrzemski made 23 special baseball rings, one for each year he spent in MLB, and gave them to 23 important people in his life. Gibbons received one. He wears it along with his 1960 MLB World Series ring, which he earned as a Minor League Manager in the Pittsburgh Pirates system.
  • Not long after Yastrzemski, Gibbons brought in a trio of 6-foot-6 basketball players who were also pitchers. Two signed out of high school and bypassed Notre Dame for minor league baseball, but the third player was Ron Reed. He was a first round draft pick and played two years with the Detroit Pistons before starting a 19-year career in MLB.
  • Bob Arnzen was a three-year starter, two-year captain and all-american for Notre Dame in basketball. In addition to his five-year career in the ABA and NBA, Arnzen spent three seasons as a pitcher in the minor leagues.

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION — Notre Dame captured five of its nine BIG EAST series in 2012, including four of its last six. The Irish had not collected more conference series victories in one season since 2006. The ’06 Notre Dame club captured seven BIG EAST series and posted a 45-17-1 overall record and 21-5-1 mark in conference play.

  • Notre Dame registered 31 victories in 2012, the most by the Irish since the 2009 campaign. Notre Dame managed just 23 and 22, respectively, in 2011 and 2010.
  • Notre Dame picked up multiple victories and advanced to the BIG EAST tournament semifinals for the first time since 2009. In fact, it only marked the second time the Irish have accomplished the feat since 2006.

COACHING CONNECTIONS — Two recent Notre Dame assistant coaches – Brian O’Connor (University of Virginia) and Cory Mee (University of Toledo) – are serving as 10th-year Division I head coaches in the 2013 season while another recent Notre Dame assistant coach, Terry Rooney, embarks on his fifth year at UCF. Four recent Notre Dame players – >John Corbin (Bradley), Javi Sanchez (LSU), Eddie Smith (Notre Dame) and Ryan Connolly (Radford) – currently are assistant coaches on the Division I level. Ross Brezovsky is the coordinator of baseball operations at LSU.

FAST OUT OF THE GATE — Notre Dame collected its 15th victory in game-21 of the season. The 2004 and 2001 campaigns are the only in the last 20 years (dating back to the 1993 season) in which the Irish reached the 15-win mark in fewer than 20 games.

FAR & WIDE — Notre Dame’s 2013 roster includes 35 players from 17 different home states.

  • The top 10 position players and top three starting pitchers hail from 10 different states, including three from Illinois, two from Ohio and one each from Florida, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Minnesota, Virginia and Indiana.

ROAD TRIPPERS — Notre Dame played its first 17 games away from home, in six different cities: Sarasota, Fla., New Orleans, Cary, N.C. and Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Calif.

  • The Irish virtually spent all of April (12 of 17 games) in the friendly confines of Eck Stadium, including the first seven games of the month.
  • Notre Dame’s final seven games of the regular season will all take place on the road, including BIG EAST three-game series at St. John’s (May 11-12) and at Cincinnati (May 16-18). The Irish will also travel to Western Michigan on May 14.
  • Notre Dame has not played one game yet at Frank Eck Stadium – the official home of the Irish. Notre Dame had its home BIG EAST series with Seton Hall moved to Coveleski Stadium due to the stadium’s field turf.

PLENTY OF WAYS TO FOLLOW THE IRISH — Notre Dame baseball fans will have several options for tracking the 2013 season on a game-by-game basis, through live streaming video (home games), live-audio broadcasts, Live Blogs (home games), GameTracker live stats, free Irish Alert text messages and Twitter (@NDBaseball, @NDsidBertschy) & Facebook (NDBaseball) pages.

  • Live radio broadcasts are available in the South Bend area on WHME 103.1 FM (Notre Dame baseball is part of a small percentage of programs in the nation with its entire season airing live on a commercial station). All games are streamed live on und.com, with the links posted on the bottom of the und.com main page. The online broadcasts are free of charge, as part of a quick signup with Fighting Irish All-Access (which includes archives or all audio and video content). See All-Access signup link via the multimedia gold button at the top of each und.com page.
  • Irish ALERT free text-message updates are available to your cell phone or other mobile devices. See link at the top of the baseball page under multimedia tab at und.com.
  • GameTracker live stats are provided for every game (based on internet availability). When Notre Dame is on the road, the home team typically provides the live stats – with bonus GameTracker stats also provided by the Notre Dame SID office for select road games.
  • Complete coverage of each and every Irish home game through live streaming video.

Irish On Your Radio Dial ­– Beginning with the 2008-09 athletics year, the Notre Dame athletics department announced it had partnered with the LeSEA Broadcasting Network, making WHME / Harvest 103.1 FM the new radio home of Notre Dame baseball in the South Bend market.

  • Baseball game broadcasts also continue to be streamed live and free of charge on Notre Dame’s official athletics web site (www.UND.com) through the Fighting Irish All-Access multimedia package.