First-year head coach Mik Aoki.

Irish Host Oakland In 2011 Home Opener

March 21, 2011

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame will host Oakland at 5:35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22 at Frank Eck Stadium as the Irish celebrate their 2011 home opener. The contest will also mark the inaugural home contest under first-year head coach Mik Aoki.

Notre Dame is 7-10-1 entering its six-game homestand. In addition to the Golden Grizzlies on Tuesday, the Irish host UIC at 5:35 on Wednesday and Georgetown for the BIG EAST series opener starting on Friday.

Notre Dame owns a record of 18-4-1 in home openers dating back to the 1988 season. The Irish are 7-2-1 in their last 10 openers and 12-4-1 in home openers at Frank Eck Stadium.

3.20.10   Michigan State     L, 0-133.17.09   Ball State         W, 5-43.17.08   Central Michigan   T, 2-23.20.07   Cleveland State    W, 5-33.21.06   Wright State       L, 2-43.22.05   Cincinnati         W, 10-43.23.04   Central Michigan   L, 1-43.25.03   Toledo             W, 8-34.1.02    BYU                W, 1-03.21.01   Cleveland State    W, 3-03.23.00   Detroit            W, 10-33.23.99   Western Michigan   W, 12-83.24.98   Cincinnati         W, 3-23.20.97   IUPUI              W, 8-7 (12)3.27.96   Indiana State      W, 5-43.29.95   Bowling Green      L, 4-53.30.94   Indiana            W, 7-64.6.93    Illinois           W, 11-44.4.92    Ball State         W, 7-14.13.91   Xavier             W, 12-52.5.90    Goshen             W, 3-03.29.89   Chicago State      W, 7-13.9.88    Goshen             W, 10-0

Here’s a quick look at the first home game results of new head coaches dating back to the start of the 20th century (16-2-1; previous seasons had rotating coaches who spent only part of the season with the team).

Dave Schrage     W, 5-3 vs. Cleveland State       Mar. 20, 2007Paul Mainieri    L, 4-5 vs. Bowling Green         Mar. 29, 1995Pat Murphy       W, 10-0 vs. Goshen               Mar. 9, 1988Larry Gallo      W, 4-3 vs. Indiana               Apr. 1, 1981Tom Kelly        W, 12-11 vs. Northern Illinois   Apr. 4, 1976Jake Kline       L, 5-7 vs. Ohio State            Apr. 13, 1934Tommy Mills      W, 10-9 vs. West Virginia        Apr. 30, 1927George Keogan    W, 10-1 vs. Western State        Apr. 23, 1924Walter Halas     T, 3-3 vs. Wisconsin             Apr. 15, 1921Gus Dorais       W, 4-3 vs. Wisconsin             Apr. 19, 1919Jess Harper      W, 7-2 vs. Wisconsin             Apr. 7, 1914Fred Williams    W, 9-1 vs. Olivet                Apr. 12, 1913Albert Kelly     W, 7-6 vs. Olivet                Apr. 10, 1911Ed Smith         W, 13-3 vs. Kalamazoo            Apr. 14, 1910Harry Curtis     W, 19-0 vs. Winona               Apr. 15, 1908Lou Criger       W, 11-3 vs. Hillsdale            Apr. 20, 1907Harry Arndt      W, 18-0 vs. Kalamazoo            Apr. 21, 1906Robert Lynch     W, 13-9 vs. Kalamazoo            Apr. 22, 1903Frank E. Hering  W, 18-3 vs. Michigan             Apr. 21, 1897

Freshman LHP Anthony McIver will take the mound for the Irish. The southpaw is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA with 16 strikeouts and four walks in 16.0 innings of work. McIver has appeared in eight games this season, including starts against Winthrop and UTSA. He allowed just two earned runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings against the Eagles on Mar. 5 and four earned runs on six hits in 6.1 innings against the Roadrunners on Mar. 15. McIver struck out six UTSA batters and walked only one. He retired 15 consecutive Roadrunners over one stretch.

Tuesday’s game can be heard live in South Bend on WHME / Harvest 103.1 FM and worldwide on UND.com.

— ND —