May 14, 1997

Shilliday’s Complete Game, Wagner’s RBI Edge Seton Hall

Amrhein Ties Home Run Mark

NORWICH, Conn. – Mike Amrhein and Jeff Wagner came up with big hits but sophomore righthander Alex Shilliday stole the show with a gutty complete-game performance, as Notre Dame fought off elimination in second-day action at the BIG EAST Conference Tournament with a 4-3 win over Seton Hall, Tuesday at Dodd Memorial Stadium.

Notre Dame (40-19) clinched its ninth-straight 40-win season but it didn’t come easy, as Amrhein’s career record-tying home run tied the game in the second before the Irish added a run in the fifth and two in the seventh. Seton Hall (32-22) saw its season end, also losing a 6-4 game to West Virginia on the first day of the double-elimination tournament.

Thursday’s schedule includes a 3:30 elimination game between Notre Dame and West Virginia, which lost Wednesday night to St. John’s, 11-4. St. John’s will face Villanova on Thursday at noon. The Wildcats eliminated Rutgers, 12-5, after the Knights dropped their first opening game on Tuesday to St. John’s, 3-0.

The winner of Thursday’s early game receives a bye to Friday while the loser of Thursday’s noon game will into the loser’s bracket, where it will face the winner of the 3:30 game on Thursday night (7:30). The winner of that final game on Thursday will emerge from the losers bracket to face the only remaining undefeated team (St. John’s or Villanova) on Friday, with the losers bracket winner needing two wins over the unbeaten team to claim the title.

Shilliday (7-3) — who is 6-0 vs. BIG EAST teams in ’97 and has won seven of his last eight decisions — turned in a 133 pitch performance while scattering seven hits, two walks and a hit batter over nine innings (with six strikeouts). He allowed a run in the second, an unearned run in the third and a run in the eighth. After working out of several early jams, Shilliday set down 12 straight batters in the middle of the game and ultimately retired 18 of the final 20 batters he faced.

SHU senior lefthander Brian Ridley (8-3) took the loss after allowing all four runs (three unearned) on 10 hits and two walks over seven innings, with four strikeouts.

Seton Hall twice elected to walk Amrhein intentionally and Wagner followed both times with key RBI, including the game-winning double in the seventh. Randall Brooks opened the rally with a bunt single, as third baseman Craig Zimmerli’s hurried throw pulled Alex McIconian off the first base bag (to the second-base side). Jeff Perconte followed with his second sacrifice bunt of the day, prompting an intentional walk of Amrhein.

Wagner then took a pitch for ball one before driving a double to left, whith Brooks scoring and Amrhein getting tagged out going for third. Freshman Brant Ust then sent a 2-2 pitch into right field for a run-scoring double and a 4-2 Irish lead.

Seton Hall struck for the game’s first run in the second, after a leadoff double from Marc Raciopo, a walk by Jason Robinson, a sacrifice bunt from John Bravette and a wild pitch. Amrhein tied the game in the third with a two-out, first-pitch shot that lucked inside the leftfield foul pole. The home run was the 37th of Amrhein’s career, tying Frank Jacobs (1989-91) for the Irish career record.

The Pirates edged back ahead in the bottom of the third, with leadoff man David Kim reaching first and moving on to second after third baseman after thirdbaseman J.J Brock threw well over the head of first baseman Jeff Felker. Kim moved up on a wild pitch and came home on a Dan Hummel single down the leftfield line. The Irish again tied the game in the fifth, with Brock hitting a leadoff single to left and moving all the way to third when Ridley threw high of first base on Perconte’s sacrifice bunt (Perconte took second on the play). The Pirates then intentionally walked Amrhein and Wagner made them pay, golfing an 0-2 pitch into shallow right-center to plate Brock with an unearned run.

NOTES: Kim, the BIG EAST Player of the Year, went 0-4 and had no at-bats with runners in scoring position…Amrhein had not homered in his previous six games while trying to tie Jacobs’ record…For the third straight season, Notre Dame won an elimination game to post its 40th win of the season…Amrhein home run provided his 202nd career RBI, tying Dan Peltier (1987-89) for second on the Irish career charts…Amrhein’s two hits make him the sixth Irish player to collect 90 hits in a season…Notre Dame has hit a home run in nine straight games and 37 of 58 this season…Notre Dame remains on pace for team records in batting (.338) and slugging (.538) and hit three doubles vs. SHU to tie the Irish season record of 125 set in ’93…Amrhein home run extended Notre Dame’s record total of 66…Brooks hit moved him into 7th all-time at Notre Dame (230)…Wagner’s 21 doubles are tied with Peltier’s ’89 total for 5th in Irish single-season history…Wagner now ranks 10th in Irish history with a .342 batting average.

Box Score

Univ. of Notre Dame vs Seton Hall Univ. May 14, 1997 at Dodd StadiumUniv. of Notre Dame 4 (40-18)                             Seton Hall Univ. 3 (32-22)Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A      Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Randall Brooks cf.........  5  1  1  0    0  0  0  0      Alex Melconian 1b.........  5  0  0  0    0  1 11  1Jeff Perconte rf..........  3  0  0  0    0  1  1  0      David Kim rf..............  4  1  0  0    0  1  1  0Mike Amrhein c............  3  1  2  1    2  1  5  1      Craig Zimmerli 3b.........  4  1  2  0    0  0  2  0Jeff Wagner dh............  5  1  2  2    0  1  0  0      Dan Hummel c..............  3  0  2  2    0  0  6  0Brant Ust ss..............  4  0  2  1    0  0  1  4      Mike Condon ss............  4  0  0  0    0  1  3  4Allen Greene lf...........  4  0  1  0    0  2  3  0      Marc Racioppo cf..........  3  1  2  0    1  0  1  0Jeff Felker 1b............  3  0  1  0    0  1 16  0      Jason Robinson dh.........  3  0  1  0    1  1  0  0Todd Frye 2b..............  4  0  0  0    0  0  1  1      John Bravette 2b..........  2  0  0  0    0  1  2  0J.J. Brock 3b.............  4  1  2  0    0  0  0  6       James Kish ph............. 1  0  0  0    0  1  0  0Alex Shilliday p..........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  2      Paul Viole lf.............  3  0  0  0    0  0  0  1 Damon Ponce de Leon ph.... 1  0  0  0    0  0  0  0Brian Ridley p............  0  0  0  0    0  0  1  3 Joe Gangemi p............. 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  2--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totals.................... 35  4 11  4    2  6 27 14      Totals.................... 33  3  7  2    2  6 27 11Score by innings:                      R  H  E----------------------------------------------Univ. of Notre Dame   001 010 200   -  4 11  2Seton Hall Univ.      011 000 010   -  3  7  1----------------------------------------------E - Allen Greene (5), J.J. Brock (25), Brian Ridley (1).LOB - Irish 9, Pirates 7.2B - Jeff Wagner (21), Brant Ust (15), Jeff Felker (8), C. Zimmerli (12), M. Racioppo (9).HR - Mike Amrhein (14).SH - J. Perconte 2 (4), Jeff Felker (1), J. Bravette (7).Univ. of Notre Dame    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB  BF      Seton Hall Univ.       IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB  BF----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Alex Shilliday......  9.0   7   3   2   2   6  33  37      Brian Ridley........  7.0  10   4   4   2   4  28  33Joe Gangemi.........  2.0   1   0   0   0   2   7   7Winner - A. Shilliday 7-3.  Loser - Brian Ridley 8-3.  WP - A. Shilliday 2(7).HBP - by A. Shilliday (Dan Hummel).Start: Noon   Time: 2:37   Attendance: 300

Play-by-play

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 1

Rand. Brooks grounded out to ss. J. Perconte struck out. Mike Amrheinsingled to right field. Jeff Wagner flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0errors, 1 LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 1

A. Melconian popped up to ss. David Kim struck out. C. Zimmerli singled toright field. Dan Hummel hit by pitch; C. Zimmerli advanced to second. MikeCondon grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 2

Brant Ust singled to right field. Allen Greene singled to center field;Brant Ust advanced to second. Jeff Felker grounded out to p, SAC, bunt;Allen Greene advanced to second; Brant Ust advanced to third. Todd Fryepopped up to ss. J.J. Brock popped up to ss. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 2

M. Racioppo doubled to left field. J. Robinson walked. J. Bravettegrounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; J. Robinson advanced to second; M. Racioppoadvanced to third. J. Robinson advanced to third on a wild pitch; M.Racioppo scored on a wild pitch. Paul Viole grounded out to 3b. A.Melconian fouled out to 1b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 3

Rand. Brooks popped up to 2b. J. Perconte fouled out to 1b. Mike Amrheinhomered to left field, RBI. Jeff Wagner struck out looking. 1 run, 1 hit,0 errors, 0 LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 3

David Kim reached on an error by 3b, advanced to second on an error by 3b.C. Zimmerli flied out to rf. David Kim advanced to third on a wild pitch.Dan Hummel singled down the rf line, RBI; David Kim scored, unearned. MikeCondon grounded out to 1b unassisted; Dan Hummel advanced to second. M.Racioppo intentionally walked. Dan Hummel out at second p to 3b to 2b,picked off. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 4

Brant Ust fouled out to 3b. Allen Greene struck out looking. Jeff Felkerdoubled down the rf line. Todd Frye grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0errors, 1 LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 4

J. Robinson singled to first base. J. Bravette grounded out to p; J.Robinson advanced to second. Paul Viole grounded out to ss; J. Robinsonadvanced to third. A. Melconian struck out. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 5

J.J. Brock singled to left center. Rand. Brooks popped up to 2b. J.Perconte reached on an error by p, SAC, bunt, advanced to second on an errorby p; J.J. Brock advanced to second, advanced to third on an error by p.Mike Amrhein intentionally walked. Jeff Wagner singled to right center,RBI; Mike Amrhein advanced to second; J. Perconte advanced to third; J.J.

Brock scored. Brant Ust popped up to ss. Allen Greene struck out looking.1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 5

David Kim grounded out to 3b, bunt. C. Zimmerli grounded out to ss. DanHummel singled to left field. Mike Condon grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 1hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 6

Jeff Felker out at first 1b to p. Todd Frye fouled out to 1b. J.J. Brockflied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 6

M. Racioppo grounded out to 1b unassisted. J. Robinson struck out. J.Bravette struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 7

Rand. Brooks singled to third base, bunt. J. Perconte grounded out to p,SAC, bunt; Rand. Brooks advanced to second. Mike Amrhein intentionallywalked. Jeff Wagner doubled down the lf line, RBI; Mike Amrhein out atsecond lf to 3b; Rand. Brooks scored. Brant Ust doubled to right field,RBI; Jeff Wagner scored. Allen Greene grounded out to ss. 2 runs, 3 hits,0 errors, 1 LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 7

Paul Viole grounded out to 1b unassisted. A. Melconian flied out to lf.David Kim flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 8

Joe Gangemi to p for Brian Ridley. Jeff Felker struck out. Todd Fryegrounded out to p. J.J. Brock singled to left field. Rand. Brooks groundedout to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 8

C. Zimmerli doubled down the lf line, advanced to third on an error by lf.Dan Hummel grounded out to ss, RBI; C. Zimmerli scored. Mike Condon struckout looking. M. Racioppo singled to right center. J. Robinson flied out tolf. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 9

J. Perconte grounded out to ss. Mike Amrhein struck out. Jeff Wagnergrounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Seton Hall Univ. inning 9

James Kish pinch hit for J. Bravette. James Kish struck out, out at first cto 1b. PoncedeLeon pinch hit for Paul Viole. PoncedeLeon grounded out to2b. A. Melconian grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.