March 19, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame will play host to Eastern Michigan at 5:35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 at Frank Eck Stadium as the Irish celebrate their 2012 home opener.
Freshman RHP Pat Connaughton will make his Irish baseball debut and start on the mound. He just finished his rookie campaign for the Notre Dame men’s basketball squad. Connaughton played in all 34 games, started 18 games, averaged 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 24.1 minutes per game (and was third on team with 41 three-point goals).
Connaughton was rated by Baseball America as the No. 29 overall freshman and No. 15 rookie pitcher entering the 2012 season. He was one of two BIG EAST freshmen listed, joining RHP Nick Burdi of Louisville. Connaughton was ranked as the No. 4 MLB prospect in the BIG EAST and No. 33 overall prospect by Perfect Game. Baseball America also rated him as the second-best freshman in the BIG EAST.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youth/senior and can be purchased online 24 hours a day at www.und.com/tickets. They can also be purchased weekdays from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (ET) by phone at (574) 631-7356 or in person at Gate 9 inside the Rosenthal Atrium of the Murnane Family Ticket Office in Purcell Pavilion. Service charges apply.
Season tickets also remain available. Full season packages are $50 per person for adults and $30 per person for youth/senior, while four-ticket “Fan Packs” are $120 for individuals. Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross students, faculty and staff are admitted free for all regular-season home games with valid ID at Eck Stadium.
Notre Dame is 10-7 entering its five-game home stand. In addition to the Eagles on Tuesday, the Irish host IPFW at 5:35 on Wednesday and Pittsburgh for the BIG EAST series opener starting on Friday.
Notre Dame owns a record of 19-4-1 in home openers dating back to the 1988 season. The Irish are 8-2-1 in their last 11 openers and 13-4-1 in home openers at Frank Eck Stadium.
3.25.11 Georgetown W, 3-23.20.10 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
The game can also be heard live in South Bend on WHME / Harvest 103.1 FM and streamed live on UND.com.
— ND —