June 18, 2002

Recap?|? Box Score

WE MEET AGAIN: Notre Dame and Stanford met for the third time in history today and the second time in the last four days. Stanford has won all three meetings between the two teams, including a 4-3 and a 5-3 win at the 2002 CWS.

IRISH SET TEAM RECORD FOR WINS IN A SEASON: Notre Dame set the team record for wins in season with 50 wins breaking last year’s record of 49 wins.

STANLEY INTO SECOND: Irish centerfielder Steve Stanley moved into second on the NCAA career starts list after getting the nod in his 256th consecutive game today. Clemson’s Khalil Greene holds the all-time record for consecutive starts with 266.

FIRST INNING PITCHING WOES: The first inning has been the worst for Notre Dame pitchers this season and today was no exceptions as the Irish gave up two runs on three hits, including Sam Fuld’s two-run homer. Coming into the game, Notre Dame had a 5.64 ERA in the first inning, while the opponents were hitting .289. Notre Dame has now given up four home runs in the first inning as well.

STAT OF THE GAME: After Notre Dame left nine runners on base, including six in scoring position yesterday against Rice, the Irish struggled again today in that category. Notre Dame left six on base, including three in scoring position. Notre Dame left runners on first and second in both the fifth and the sixth innings and left a runner on third in the seventh.

A RARITY: Sam Fuld’s first inning homerun was only the third homerun Peter Ogilvie has allowed in 125.2 innings pitched in his career. Ogilvie then gave up another homer to Carlos Quentin to lead off the second inning, doubling the number of homeruns he has given up in his career.

TURNING TWO: With its 6-3 double play in the first inning, Notre Dame added to its team record with its 57 double play of the season.

OPENING INNING JITTERS OVER: Before scoring a run in the bottom of the first today against the Cardinal, Notre Dame had been retired 1-2-3 in their previous two CWS games. Notre Dame has now scored in the first inning in six of nine games (13 runs overall) in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

GET THE PARTY STARTED: Steve Stanley is now 29-for-62 in the first inning of games, with six walks this season.

MR. CONSISTENCY: With his single in the first, Steve Stanley has now hit in 57 of 68 games for the Irish this season.

MORE STANLEY: Stanley moved into second with 461 total bases. Stanley also added to his single-season career hits record with his 119th hit and now has 385 career hits, good for third all-time in NCAA history. Stanley also has 123 multi-hit games in his career and 39 this season.

STAVISKY MOVING UP CAREER RBI CHART: With his RBI groundout in the first inning, Brian Stavisky moved into a tie for ninth place with 166. Stavisky is now tied with Frank Jacobs and current major leaguer Craig Counsell for ninth and is only four away from Brant Ust and eighth place (170).

BRAVO STAVO: Brian Stavisky now has 30 RBI in 19 career NCAA games.

O’TOOLE MOVES INTO SECOND ON GAMES PLAYED LIST: Catcher Paul O’Toole moved into second on the all-time Notre Dame games played list today, playing in his 240 career game (second only to Steve Stanley’s 256). O’Toole is also fourth on the all-time career starts list with 228.

IRISH PITCHERS MOWING THEM DOWN: With their three strikeouts today, Notre Dame pitchers extended their team single-season strikeout mark to 483. The Irish broke the old record of 478 set in 1999 yesterday against Rice.

BILLMAIER STAYS HOT: With his single in the fifth, Kris Billmaier is now 33-for-66 (.500) in NCAA Tournament games for his career. Billmaier is hitting over 240 points higher in the NCAA Tournament than in all other games where his career average is .268.

SOLLMANN’S STREAK ENDS: Before grounding out 1-6-3 in the bottom of the fifth – with a runner on second – Steve Sollmann was a perfect 11-for-11 in the NCAA Tournament with runners in scoring position.

THE INNING AFTER: In two of the three innings after the Irish scored, Stanford answered back with one in the top of the inning. Notre Dame scored one run in the first, fifth and sixth, and Stanford answered with a run in the second and sixth.

GIVE GAGNE THE BALL: Reliever J.P. Gagne moved into a tie for fourth place on the single-season appearance list, making his 28th appearance of the season tonight. He is now tied with Chris Michalak (1990) anmd John Corbin (2000).