May 15, 1997

Notre Dame Advances in BIG EAST Championship, Eliminates West Virginia

NORWICH, Conn. – Sophomore left-hander Chris McKeown pitched a four-hitter, registering his first complete game of the year as Notre Dame beat West Virginia 8-1 in game eight of the BIG EAST Championship at Thomas J. Dodd Stadium. The Fighting Irish advance to face Villanova in an elimination game for the right to play St. John’s in the championship on Friday.

McKeown game up one run in the game on an RBI single by WVU shortstop Matt Rubino in the third inning. He notched six strikeouts against the Mountaineers, facing just seven batters over the minimum. The Irish broke the game open in the fourth inning, scoring five runs on three hits and two errors. Third baseman J.J. Brock led Notre Dame at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored.

Notre Dame improved to 41-18 with the win, while West Virginia falls to 36-19. St. John’s will await the winner of the game between the Irish and Wildcats in the championship round. The title game of the BIG EAST Championship is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT Friday. If necessary, a second game will be played at 7 p.m.

Box Score

Univ. of Notre Dame vs West Virginia Univ. May 15, 1997 at Dodd StadiumUniv. of Notre Dame 8 (41-18)                             West Virginia Univ. 1 (36-18)Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A      Name (Pos)                 AB  R  H RBI  BB SO PO  A--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Randall Brooks cf.........  4  1  1  1    0  1  2  0      Josh Williamson lf........  4  1  1  0    0  0  1  0Jeff Perconte rf..........  4  1  0  0    1  1  4  0      Matt Rubino ss............  4  0  1  1    0  0  1  4Mike Amrhein c............  4  2  1  0    1  0  6  1      Kirk Taylor cf............  4  0  1  0    0  2  1  0Jeff Wagner dh............  4  1  0  0    1  2  0  0      Jason Frushour c..........  4  0  0  0    0  0 10  1Brant Ust ss..............  4  0  1  2    1  0  2  3      Joe McNamee 1b............  4  0  0  0    0  1  8  1Allen Greene lf...........  5  1  2  1    0  1  2  0      Troy Englehart dh.........  4  0  0  0    0  2  0  0Jeff Felker 1b............  3  0  0  0    2  2 11  0      Abe Barker rf.............  3  0  0  0    0  1  3  0Todd Frye 2b..............  5  0  1  1    0  3  0  3       Brad Elwood ph............ 1  0  0  0    0  0  0  0J.J. Brock 3b.............  5  2  3  0    0  0  0  2      Jack Smarslak 3b..........  2  0  0  0    1  0  0  1Chris McKeown p...........  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  4      Jamie Hammond 2b..........  3  0  1  0    0  0  2  2Steve Beller p............  0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0 Chad Spencer p............ 0  0  0  0    0  0  1  1 Frank Cafaro p............ 0  0  0  0    0  0  0  0--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Totals.................... 38  8  9  5    6 10 27 13 Totals.................... 33  1  4  1    1  6 27 10Score by innings:                      R  H  E----------------------------------------------Univ. of Notre Dame   210 500 000   -  8  9  2West Virginia Univ.   001 000 000   -  1  4  3----------------------------------------------E - Brant Ust (18), Todd Frye (22), Joe McNamee (9), J. Smarslak (19), J. Hammond  9).LOB - Irish 10, Mountaineers 6.2B - Rand. Brooks (13), Williamson (20).SB - Jeff Felker (8), Williamson (12).SH - Rand. Brooks (5).Univ. of Notre Dame    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB  BF      West Virginia Univ.    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO  AB  BF----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chris McKeown.......  9.0   4   1   1   1   6  33  34      Steve Beller........  3.2   6   7   4   5   5  17  23Chad Spencer........  4.1   3   1   0   1   3  18  19Frank Cafaro........  1.0   0   0   0   0   2   3   3Winner - C. McKeown 4-3.  Loser - Steve Beller 5-6.Start: 3:30 PM   Time: 2:32   Attendance: 200

Play-by-play

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 1

Rand. Brooks struck out. J. Perconte walked. Mike Amrhein singled to leftcenter; J. Perconte advanced to third. Jeff Wagner struck out. Brant Ustsingled to left field, RBI; Mike Amrhein advanced to second; J. Percontescored. Allen Greene singled to center field, RBI; Brant Ust advanced tothird; Mike Amrhein scored. Jeff Felker walked; Allen Greene advanced tosecond. Todd Frye struck out. 2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 1

Williamson grounded out to p. Matt Rubino grounded out to 2b. Kirk Taylorsingled to pitcher, bunt. J. Frushour reached on a fielder’s choice; KirkTaylor out at second 2b to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 2

J.J. Brock singled to right field. Rand. Brooks grounded out to 3b, SAC,bunt; J.J. Brock advanced to second. J. Perconte flied out to lf. MikeAmrhein reached on an error by 1b, assist by c; J.J. Brock advanced tothird, scored on an error by 1b, unearned. Jeff Wagner struck out. 1 run,1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 2

Joe McNamee grounded out to ss. T. Englehart struck out looking. AbeBarker grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 3

Brant Ust grounded out to ss. Allen Greene lined out to 2b. Jeff Felkerwalked. Jeff Felker stole second. Todd Frye struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0errors, 1 LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 3

J. Smarslak grounded out to ss. J. Hammond singled to right field.Williamson reached on a fielder’s choice; J. Hammond out at second p to ss.Williamson stole second. Matt Rubino singled to center field, RBI;Williamson scored. Kirk Taylor struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 4

J.J. Brock singled to center field. Rand. Brooks doubled down the lf line,RBI; J.J. Brock scored. J. Perconte popped up to 2b. Mike Amrheinintentionally walked. Jeff Wagner walked; Mike Amrhein advanced to second;Rand. Brooks advanced to third. Brant Ust flied out to rf, RBI; Jeff Wagneradvanced to second on the throw; Mike Amrhein advanced to third; Rand.Brooks scored. Chad Spencer to p for Steve Beller. Allen Greene reached onan error by 3b; Jeff Wagner advanced to third; Mike Amrhein scored,unearned. Jeff Felker reached on an error by 2b; Allen Greene advanced tosecond; Jeff Wagner scored, unearned. Todd Frye singled to left field, RBI;Jeff Felker advanced to second; Allen Greene scored, unearned. J.J. Brockout at first 1b to p. 5 runs, 3 hits, 2 errors, 2 LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 4

J. Frushour flied out to rf. Joe McNamee reached on an error by 2b. T.Englehart flied out to rf. Abe Barker struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits,1 error, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 5

Rand. Brooks grounded out to p. J. Perconte struck out. Mike Amrhein

grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 5

J. Smarslak grounded out to 3b. J. Hammond grounded out to ss. Williamsondoubled down the rf line. Matt Rubino flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0errors, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 6

Jeff Wagner grounded out to ss. Brant Ust flied out to rf. Allen Greenesingled to right field. Jeff Felker struck out. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 6

Kirk Taylor struck out. J. Frushour grounded out to p. Joe McNamee fliedout to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 7

Todd Frye grounded out to 2b. J.J. Brock singled to center field. Rand.Brooks flied out to rf. J. Perconte reached on a fielder’s choice; J.J.Brock out at second 2b to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 7

T. Englehart struck out. Abe Barker flied out to lf. J. Smarslak walked.J. Hammond grounded out to c. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 8

Mike Amrhein grounded out to ss. Jeff Wagner lined out to 1b. Brant Ustwalked. Allen Greene struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 8

Williamson grounded out to 2b. Matt Rubino reached on an error by ss. KirkTaylor flied out to rf. J. Frushour flied out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1error, 1 LOB.

Univ. of Notre Dame inning 9

Frank Cafaro to p for Chad Spencer. Jeff Felker struck out. Todd Fryestruck out. J.J. Brock flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

West Virginia Univ. inning 9

Joe McNamee struck out. T. Englehart grounded out to 3b. Brad Elwood pinchhit for Abe Barker. Brad Elwood flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors,0 LOB.