May 4, 1997

Irish Keep Rolling with 12-1 Win over Georgetown, Improve to 23-2 at Home

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore lefthander Chris McKeown putthe finishing touches on an impressive Notre Dame pitching weekendwhile the Irish offense continued its torrid pace, as Notre Damedefeated visiting Georgetown, 12-1, to sweep the Big EastConference weekend series.

Notre Dame (37-17, 15-6 Big East)–which is now 23-2 at home thisseason–broke open a sluggish game with three runs in both thefifth and sixth innings before tacking on four more runs in theseventh. Georgetown (19-37-1, 8-15) averted the shutout by pushingacross a run in the eighth versus reliever Mike Balicki.

McKeown (3-3) allowed just five hits and a walk over sevenshutouts innings while striking out four Hoyas batters. He faced atotal of 25 batters, just four above the seven-inning minimum,thanks to Steven Buckley’s inning-ending double play in theseventh and an alert pickoff move in the third inning thatthwarted Kevin DeSanto’s attempted steal of third base. McKeownhas allowed just two earned runs in his last five starts (32innings) while lowering his season ERA to 3.72.

Notre Dame outscored Georgetown 37-2 in the series (14-0, 11-1 onSaturday) while pounding out 14 hits in each of the three games.McKeown became the third straight Irish starter to face just fourbatters above the minimum, as righthander Darin Schmalz (seveninnings) and Alex Shilliday (eight innings) did the same inSaturday’s action. The Irish defense rounded out the solidall-around weekend, as Notre Dame made just one error Sunday andtwo in the series (the Irish had been averaging 2.3 errors and 1.7unearned runs allowed per game prior to the weekend).

Freshman shortstop Brant Ust put the finishing touches on his runat Big East rookie of the year honors, batting 4-for-4 in Sunday’sgame with three RBI and two runs scored, plus a triple, a double,two singles and a walk. Sophomore DH Jeff Wagner went 2-for-3while smacking his team-best 16th home run of the season.

Ust’s RBI single gave the Irish a 1-0 lead in the first and J.J.Brock’s single up the middle scored Jeff Felker for a 2-0 leadafter four innings. The Irish then scored three runs in the fifth,managing just one hit while capitalizing on two walks, a passedball, a wild pitch, two errors on one play and Todd Frye’sconference-leading 12th sacrifice bunt of the season.

Randall Brooks reached an error to lead off the bottom of thesixth and moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring onWagner’s two-out blast off the scoreboard in left-center field.Ust then followed with a triple to the gap in right-center beforeAllen Greene’s infield single scored Ust for an 8-0 Irish lead.

Notre Dame’s three-run seventh was highlighted by freshman pitcherJohn Corbin’s first career hit (an RBI single to center) and Ust’stwo-out, two-run double over the head of centerfielder MattO’Brien.

Senior righthander Larry Mohs closed out the game in the ninth,striking out two of the four batters he faced while lowering hisseason ERA to 3.44 (he has 18 K’s in 18 and one-third innings).

Sunday’s 14-for-38 effort boosted Notre Dame’s team battingaverage from .337 to .338, well ahead of the Irish record of .334(set in 1989 and ’93). The Irish also remain well on pace for theteam slugging percentage record, checking in at .540 (the ’93 teamholds the record of .519). Wagner’s home run was Notre Dame’s 62ndof the season, tying the 1991 Irish squad for second-most in teamhistory and just two shy of equaling the team record of 63 (set in’93).

Doubles in Sunday’s game from senior catcher Mike Amrhein and Ustgive the Irish 114 doubles for the season, second-most in Irishhistory and 11 off the record mark (set in ’93). Ust’s triple wasNotre Dame’s 34th of the season, tying the ’95 squad for secondall-time at Notre Dame (the ’94 team hit 41 three-baggers).

Notre Dame won 15 of its final 18 Big East games and has gone 28-6since a forgettable 0-3 series at Seton Hall on March 22-23 (whichleft the team record at 9-11). Notre Dame’s conference winningpercentage (.714) ranks tops among all 11 Big East teams, justahead of West Virginia’s .708.

Big East Update: St. John’s won Sunday’s first game at WestVirginia, 12-6, but the Mountaineers came back to take thenightcap, 7-4, giving WVU (17-7) the American Division title overthe Red Storm (16-7) … Seton Hall will face WVU on May 13 infirst-day action at the Big East Tournament (May 13-16 inNorwich, Conn.) while the divisional runner-ups, St. John’s andRutgers, will meet in another opening game … Notre Dame is offfor finals and will take a four-day break from competition (itslongest since early March) before hosting IUPUI (May 9, 7 PM) andthe University of Chicago (May 10, noon) … the Irish will faceeither Villanova or Connecticut to open the Big East Tournament(the choice of the sixth team will be made by a selectioncommittee on Tuesday morning, with UConn set to play at BostonCollege on Monday at 4 PM) … Villanova on Sunday completed athree-game home sweep of Rutgers (7-6, 8-6) to even its record at12-12 while Connecticut is 10-13 after splitting at BC on Sunday(22-6, 2-12).

Big East Tournament
Tues., May 13 vs. Villanova or Connecticut
Dodd Stadium (Norwich, Conn.)
Noon

  • if Notre Dame wins on May 13 – the Irish would face the loser of Tuesday’s St. John’s/Rutgers game, on May 14 at 3:30 PM
  • if Notre Dame loses on May 13- the Irish would face the loser of Tuesday’s West Virginia/Seton Hall game, on May 14 at Noon

NOTES: Wagner is the fourth Irish player to hit 16 homeruns in a season, joining Frank Jacobs (20 in ’91), Tim Hutson (18in ’88) and Ryan Topham (18 in ’95) … Wagner also has 40singles, 20 doubles and a triple in 197 at-bats, for a .746season slugging percentage that ranks 2nd in Irish history (DanPeltier posted a .783 in ’89) … no Irish player has collectedmore home runs as a freshman and sophomore than Wagner, whose 26career homers already rank 8th in Irish history, just two out of ashare of 6th … Amrhein’s double was the 48th of his career,moving him into a tie with Joe Binkiewicz (1989-92) for 4th inIrish history (two behind Craig Counsell’s 50) … Amrhein scoredthree times on Sunday, giving him 190 career runs scored (5th inIrish history, moving past Scott Sollmann’s 187) … Amrhein andUst have cracked Notre Dame’s single season run scored list, withAmrhein checking in at 9th (65) and Ust 10th (64) … Notre Damehas posted no errors (three times) or one error in nine of itslast 10 games … Frye is tied with his former teammate Sollmann(’95) for 6th on the Irish single season sacrifice bunt list (12),just two off the Irish record shared by three players (includingSollmann in ’96) … Ust leads all Big East freshmen in battingaverage (.389), home runs (10, tying for most ever by an Irishfreshman) and runs scored (64, third overall in the conference)… all nine starters remain above .300 while seven are hitting.350-plus and five are above .360: Amrhein (.408), Wagner (.391),Ust (.389), Brooks (.362) and Jeff Perconte (.361).

             Georgetown 1 (19-37-1)                                    Univ. of Notre Dame 12 (37-17)Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A      Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A----------------------------------------------------      ----------------------------------------------------Matt O'Brien cf...........  4  0  2  1    0  0  4  0      Randall Brooks cf.........  5  2  2  0    0  0  5  0Kevin DeSanto dh..........  4  0  2  0    0  1  0  0      Jeff Perconte rf..........  5  0  1  0    0  2  2  0Sean Mignogna lf..........  4  0  1  0    0  1  2  0      Pat O'Keefe rf............  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0Tom Farley 1b.............  2  0  1  0    1  1  6  0      Mike Amrhein c............  4  3  1  1    1  0  6  0Matt Dzamba 1b............  1  0  0  0    0  0  0  0      Jeff Wagner dh............  3  2  2  2    1  0  0  0Andrew Mariniello 3b......  3  0  0  0    0  0  3  0      John Corbin ph............  1  1  1  1    0  0  0  0Joseph Marchese ph........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0      Brant Ust ss..............  4  2  4  3    1  0  3  6Scott Fergerson ss/2b.....  3  0  2  0    0  0  3  2      Allen Greene lf...........  2  0  1  2    0  0  0  0Alex Offutt ph............  1  0  0  0    0  1  0  0      Dan Leatherman lf.........  1  0  0  0    0  0  0  0Steven Buckley c..........  3  0  0  0    0  1  4  1      Jeff Felker 1b............  5  1  1  0    0  1  9  0Tom Moran c...............  1  0  0  0    0  0  0  0      Todd Frye 2b..............  3  0  0  1    0  1  1  2Pat Hart 2b...............  3  1  1  0    0  0  0  3      Paul Turco 2b.............  1  0  0  0    0  0  1  1Josh Corman ss............  1  0  0  0    0  1  0  2      J.J. Brock 3b.............  4  1  1  1    1  0  0  2Tim Mooney rf.............  3  0  0  0    0  0  2  0      Chris McKeown p...........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  2Andrew Losty rf...........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0      Mike Balicki p............  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  1Franklin Jarman p.........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0      Larry Mohs p..............  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0Derek Pines p.............  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  1Rich Angowski p...........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0Ben Becchetti p...........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0Totals.................... 33  1  9  1    1  6 24  9      Totals.................... 38 12 14 11    4  4 27 14Score by innings:                      R  H  E----------------------------------------------Georgetown            000 000 010   -  1  9  4Univ. of Notre Dame   100 133 40    - 12 14  1----------------------------------------------E - Tom Farley(12), Pat Hart 2(7), Tim Mooney(4), Mike Amrhein(6).DP - Irish 2. LOB - Hoyas 7, Irish 10.2B - Matt O'Brien(17), K. DeSanto(2), Mike Amrhein(12), Brant Ust(14). 3B - Brant Ust(4).HR - Jeff Wagner(16).SB - Tom Farley(19), S. Fergerson(10), Rand. Brooks(16). CS - K. DeSanto(3), J.J. Brock(2).SH - Todd Frye(12).Georgetown             IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB  BF               Univ. of Notre Dame    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB  BF----------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------Franklin Jarman.....  4.0   7   5   2   3   2  19  23               Chris McKeown.......  7.0   5   0   0   1   4  24  25Derek Pines.........  2.0   3   3   0   0   2   9  11               Mike Balicki........  1.0   4   1   1   0   0   6   6Rich Angowski.......  1.0   3   4   3   1   0   6   8               Larry Mohs..........  1.0   0   0   0   0   2   3   4Ben Becchetti.......  1.0   1   0   0   0   0   4   4Winner - C. McKeown 3-3.  Loser - F. Jarman 3-7.  Save - None.WP - F. Jarman(11), Derek Pines(5), M. Balicki(2). PB - S. Buckley(1), TomMoran(1). CI - S. Buckley.HBP - by F. Jarman (Allen Greene), by R. Angowski (Rand. Brooks), by LarryMohs (J. Marchese).Start: 12:00   Time: 2:46   Attendance: 652F. Jarman faced 3 batters in the 5th.

Play-by-Play

Georgetown inning 1

Matt O’Brien doubled to right field. Matt O’Brien advanced to third on an error by c. K. DeSanto grounded out to p. S. Mignogna struck out. Tom Farley walked. Tom Farley stole second. Mariniello grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 1

Rand. Brooks flied out to cf. J. Perconte flied out to rf. Mike Amrhein doubled to right field. Jeff Wagner walked. Brant Ust singled, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; Jeff Wagner advanced to second, advanced to third on the throw; Mike Amrhein scored. Allen Greene hit by pitch. Jeff Felker flied out to lf. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

Georgetown inning 2

S. Fergerson singled to left field. S. Fergerson stole second. S. Buckley struck out. Pat Hart flied out to cf. Tim Mooney grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 2

Todd Frye lined out to 1b. J.J. Brock grounded out to ss. Rand. Brooks singled to pitcher. Rand. Brooks stole second. J. Perconte struck out. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Georgetown inning 3

Matt O’Brien flied out to cf. K. DeSanto doubled to center field. K. DeSanto out at second p to 3b to ss, caught stealing. S. Mignogna grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 3

Mike Amrhein flied out to cf. Jeff Wagner lined out to 3b. Brant Ust singled to right field. Allen Greene grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Georgetown inning 4

Tom Farley struck out. Mariniello flied out to rf. S. Fergerson flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 4

Jeff Felker reached on a fielding error by rf, advanced to second on the error. Todd Frye struck out looking. J.J. Brock singled to center field, RBI; Jeff Felker scored, unearned. Rand. Brooks singled to left field; J.J. Brock advanced to second. Rand. Brooks advanced to second; J.J. Brock out at third c to 3b, caught stealing. J. Perconte flied out to rf. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Georgetown inning 5

S. Buckley popped up to ss. Pat Hart popped up to rf. Tim Mooney grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 5

Mike Amrhein walked. Mike Amrhein advanced to second on a passed ball. Jeff Wagner singled to right field; Mike Amrhein advanced to third. Jeff Wagner advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brant Ust intentionally walked. Derek Pines to p for F. Jarman. Allen Greene reached on an error by 2b, advanced to second on an error by 1b, interference, RBI; Brant Ust advanced to second, advanced to third on the error; Jeff Wagner advanced to third, scored on the error, unearned; Mike Amrhein scored. Jeff Felker struck out. Todd Frye grounded out to p, SAC, bunt, RBI; Allen Greene advanced to third; Brant Ust scored, unearned. J.J. Brock grounded out to ss. 3 runs, 1 hit, 2 errors, 1 LOB.

Georgetown inning 6

Matt O’Brien flied out to cf. K. DeSanto struck out looking. S. Mignogna grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 6

Rand. Brooks reached on an error by 2b. Rand. Brooks advanced to second on a wild pitch. J. Perconte struck out. Mike Amrhein lined out to cf. Jeff Wagner homered to left center, 2 RBI, unearned; Rand. Brooks scored, unearned. Brant Ust tripled to right center. Allen Greene singled to third base, RBI; Brant Ust scored, unearned. Jeff Felker grounded out to 2b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Georgetown inning 7

Leatherman to lf for Allen Greene. Tom Farley singled to center field. Mariniello reached on a fielder’s choice; Tom Farley out at second ss to 2b. S. Fergerson singled to center field; Mariniello advanced to second. S. Buckley grounded into double play 2b to ss to 1b; S. Fergerson out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 7

Matt Dzamba to 1b for Tom Farley. Tom Moran to c for S. Buckley. R. Angowski to p for Derek Pines. Todd Frye flied out to lf. J.J. Brock walked. Rand. Brooks hit by pitch; J.J. Brock advanced to second. J. Perconte singled to left field; Rand. Brooks advanced to second; J.J. Brock advanced to third. Mike Amrhein reached on a fielder’s choice, RBI; J. Perconte out at second 2b to ss; Rand. Brooks advanced to third; J.J. Brock scored. John Corbin pinch hit for Jeff Wagner. John Corbin singled to center field, RBI; Mike Amrhein advanced to second; Rand. Brooks scored. John Corbin advanced to second on a passed ball; Mike Amrhein advanced to third on a passed ball. Brant Ust doubled to center field, 2 RBI; John Corbin scored, unearned; Mike Amrhein scored. Leatherman flied out to cf. 4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Georgetown inning 8

Pat O’Keefe to rf for J. Perconte. M. Balicki to p for C. McKeown. Paul Turco to 2b for Todd Frye. Pat Hart singled to center field. Tim Mooney grounded out to p; Pat Hart advanced to second. Pat Hart advanced to third on a wild pitch. Matt O’Brien singled to center field, RBI; Pat Hart scored. K. DeSanto singled down the lf line; Matt O’Brien advanced to second. S. Mignogna singled to left field; K. DeSanto advanced to second; Matt O’Brien advanced to third. Matt Dzamba grounded into double play 3b to 2b to 1b; S. Mignogna out on the play. 1 run, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 8

B. Becchetti to p for R. Angowski. S. Fergerson to 2b. Josh Corman to ss for Pat Hart. Andrew Losty to rf for Tim Mooney. Jeff Felker singled to center field. Paul Turco popped up to 3b. J.J. Brock reached on a fielder’s choice; Jeff Felker out at second ss to 2b. Rand. Brooks reached on a fielder’s choice; J.J. Brock out at second ss to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Georgetown inning 9

Larry Mohs to p for M. Balicki. J. Marchese pinch hit for Mariniello. J. Marchese hit by pitch. Alex Offutt pinch hit for S. Fergerson. Alex Offutt struck out looking. Tom Moran flied out to cf. Josh Corman struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.