June 2, 2002

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NOTRE DAME

• With the victory, Notre Dame advanced in the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in school history and the first time since 1957 when the Irish won the District IV playoff and advanced to the College World Series. Notre Dame will now play Florida State in Super Regional action beginning Friday. The site is still to be determined.

• The Irish are now 9-4 in their last 13 NCAA games and 33-32 in 17 all-time NCAA appearances.

• Today is the first time Notre Dame has won three consecutive games in NCAA Regional play since 1992. In 1992, Notre Dame defeated Miami (6-3), Delaware (12-6) and South Carolina (11-2) in the Atlantic Regional.

• Today’s crowd of 1,798 was the largest crowd of the South Bend Regional. The three-day attendance total was 8,018 for six games.

• With his double in the first inning, Steve Stanley moved into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time NCAA hit list. Stanley was tied with Jim Thomas who had 373 hits at Wichita State (1979-82). Stanley, who has 375 hits in his career, is eyeing third place as he is four hits away from tying Cal State Fullerton’s John Fishel who posted 379 hits from 1982-85.

• With his sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, Paul O’Toole is now tied for second on the single-season sacrifice fly list with former Irish superstar Alec Porzel. Porzel had eight sacrifice flies in 2000. O’Toole is only one sac fly away from tying the Notre Dame record of nine set by Robbie Kent in 1994. Andrew Bushey also moved into a tie for fourth on the same list with seven.

• With its double play in the third inning, Notre Dame tied its single-season record for double plays in a season with 60. Then, the Irish turned a 4-6-3 double play in the seventh, breaking the team record. The Irish also turned 60 double plays in 1998.

• Matt Bok’s home run off of Nate Smith in the fourth inning was the second time this weekend Bok has homered off of him. Bok also hit a pinch-hit homer off of Smith in the eighth inning of Friday’s contest.

• The Irish have 61 hits in its three Regional games, including seven homeruns this weekend.

• The Irish had recorded 11 shutout innings (dating back to the South Alabama game) before the Buck-eyes scored one run in the fourth inning.

• Since returning from a five-week bout with mono, pitcher Chris Niesel has allowed only three runs in 14.1 innings with 14 K’s, 3 walks and 13 hits allowed.

• The Irish defense did not commit an error in its three games of the Regional.

• Notre Dame is the first school from the current BIG EAST Conference to advance in NCAA Tourna-ment play since the Frank Viola-led St. John’s Red Storm advanced to the College World Series in 1980.

OHIO STATE

• With the loss today, Ohio State closes out the 2002 season with a 38-20-1 record.

• Ohio State is 35-31 all-time in NCAA history in 15 all-time appearances.

• Ohio State has been regional champion or runner-up four times in its last eight NCAA appearances.

• With his three hits against the Irish, Doug Deeds has 23 mutil-hit games this season including two in the regional.

• Terry Pettorini extended his hitting streak to six games ( a career-high). He now has seven hits in the postseason with five being for extra bases (three homeruns and two doubles).

• Mike Rabin equaled a career-best with three hits. It is a feat he has accomplished four times in his career, most recently May 5, 2002, at Michigan.