Feb. 18, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame junior 3B Eric Jagielo and freshman RHP Nick McCarty were each named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. The duo helped the Irish take two of three games at the 2013 Snowbird Classic.
Jagielo (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North H.S.) 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.
McCarty (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral H.S.) made his Irish debut on Saturday against Florida Gulf Coast, tossed five shutout innings of relief and picked up the victory. He entered the game in the sixth inning with Notre Dame trailing 5-3. McCarty blanked the Eagles before the Irish could tie it in the ninth and ultimately win the game in the 10th. He limited FGCU to four hits and struck out four.
McCarty was the first Irish rookie to pick up a victory in the season opener since Grant Johnson on Feb. 22, 2002. He also is first Notre Dame freshman pitcher to receive BIG EAST honor roll accolades since Sean Fitzgerald on Apr. 4, 2011.
Notre Dame returns to action next weekend with a three-game series at Tulane. First-pitch for Friday’s series opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.
— ND —