March 1, 2013

The Matchups

#22 Notre Dame
Fighting Irish (5-1)

vs Massachusetts
Minuteman (0-0)

vs Tennessee
Volunteers (3-5)

vs #25 Virginia Tech
Hokies (8-1)

vs Rhode Island
Rams (0-8)

USA Baseball National Training Complex
Cary, N.C.

Probable pitchers

Friday (3:00 p.m. ET)
RHP Donnie Hissa (0-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP D.J. Jauss (0-0, 27.00 ERA*)

Friday (6:30 p.m. ET)
RHP Sean Fitzgerald (1-0, 4.76 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Godley (0-1, 6.75 ERA)

Saturday (6:00 p.m. ET)
RHP Adam Norton (2-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. RHP Brad Markey (2-0, 2.08 ERA)

Sunday (11:00 a.m. ET)
RHP David Hearne (0-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. RHP Liam O’Sullivan (0-1, 7.36 ERA)
* pitched at East Carolina in 2012

Live game coverage
Live Video: None
Live Audio: WHME 103.1 FM (Chuck Freeby, pbp); UND.com
Live Stats: UND.com

IN THE BATTERS BOX — Notre Dame hits the road this weekend for the inaugural USA Baseball-Irish Classic presented by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. Notre Dame opens the classic at 3 p.m. ET on Friday against Massachusetts before facing Tennessee at 6:30 p.m. ET. The Irish and Virginia Tech will square off at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday. Notre Dame concludes the weekend with a tilt against Rhode Island at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday.

LOOKING BACK — Notre Dame collected a three-game sweep at Tulane last weekend. The Irish were the first non-conference foe to sweep the Green Wave at Turchin Stadium since 1997.

• Notre Dame’s bullpen has been nearly perfect over its first six games of 2013. The Irish relief corps has collected a 1.12 ERA in 24.0 innings of work. Freshman RHP Nick McCarty, junior RHP Dan Slania, sophomore RHP Cristian Torres, sophomore RHP Matt Ternowchek, junior RHP Donnie Hissa and freshman LHP Zak Kutsulis have limited foes to a .190 batting average. They have struck out 17, walked eight and allowed just 15 hits (only one extra base hit). They’ve also posted a 2-0 record with two saves and have allowed just one run after the sixth inning this season.
• McCarty entered the series finale at Tulane in the bottom of the sixth inning with Notre Dame clinging to a two-run lead (5-3). The rookie proceeded to retire the next nine Green Wave batters, including seven by ground out. McCarty issued a walk and allowed a base hit to open the ninth inning, but evaded damage following a fly out and game-ending 5-4-3 double play. McCarty added a scoreless inning of relief and hold in Friday night’s season-opening victory. McCarty improved to 2-0 on the season and has yet to allow a run in 10.0 innings of work out of the Irish bullpen. He needed just 39 pitches over his four innings of work, and most impressively, 30 of those offerings were strikes.
• Junior 3B All-American candidate Eric Jagielo continued his torrid start to the 2013 season. He batted .444 (4-for-9) with a double, home run, two runs scored and four RBI in the three-game sweep of Tulane. He registered a slugging percentage of .889 and on-base percentage of .462. Jagielo provided all the offense the Irish would need in Friday night’s 2-1 victory. He smacked a two-run home run in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie. Jagielo went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly in the 3-1 triumph on Saturday and finished the weekend with a multi-hit game on Sunday. Jagielo went 2-for-4 in the series finale with another sacrifice fly.
• Jagielo is the only player in the BIG EAST to make the league honor roll in each of the first two weeks of the season.
• Junior RHP Sean Fitzgerald limited Tulane to one earned run on four hits in 6.1 innings of work on Feb. 22. He struck out two and did not issue a walk. Fitzgerald retired 15 straight Green Wave batters at one point in the game and 16 of the first 18 batters he faced. In fact, he faced the minimum over the first six innings of the contest. Fitzgerald did not work to a three-ball count until the bottom of the seventh. He has made two career starts in the State of Louisiana – Feb. 22 against Tulane and last year against No. 11 LSU. He has registered victories in each outing and has allowed just two earned runs in 14.1 innings of work. Fitzgerald has combined to fan six and walk one.
• Fitzgerald was named to the BIG EAST honor roll – one week after McCarty registered a similar honor.
• Notre Dame played nearly flawless defense in the series sweep of Tulane. The Irish committed only one error in 121 fielding chances, which equates to a sparkling .992 fielding percentage. The Irish have not posted a better fielding percentage over a three-game series since May 7-8, 2011, at Rutgers. Notre Dame fielded at a .993 clip en route to a series victory over the Scarlet Knights.

IRISH TRAVELS TO THE TAR HEEL STATE ­– Notre Dame will make a appearance in North Carolina for the second consecutive year. The Irish swept Hofstra in a three-game series at the Team USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C., last season. Prior to 2012, the Irish had not played in the Tar Heel State since 1989.

• The Irish own an all-time record of 11-14 against schools from the Tar Heel State, including Camp Lejeune (2-1), Duke (4-5), Elon (2-0), North Carolina (1-2), North Carolina State (0-1), UNW Wilmington (0-1) and Wake Forest (2-4).
• Notre Dame has played a total of 20 games (13-7 record) in the state of North Carolina, including 10 at Duke (6-4), three in Cary (3-0), three at Camp Lejeune (2-1), two at Elon (2-0) and two at Wake Forest (0-2).

4.7.55 at Duke L 1-4 2.25.88 at Duke W 14-114.8.55 vs. Ohio (@ Duke) W 3-2 2.26.88 at Duke L 6-94.9.55 vs. Yale (@ Duke) L 5-8 2.27.88 at Wake Forest L 10-174.8.63 at Camp Lejeune W 6-3 2.28.88 at Wake Forest L 5-124.9.63 at Camp Lejeune W 13-5 3.18.89 at Duke W 5-44.10.63 at Camp Lejeune L 4-8 3.19.89 vs. St. Bonaventure (@ Duke) W 5-24.11.63 at Duke W 4-3 3.19.89 at Duke L 2-84.13.63 at Duke W 6-2 2.25.12 vs. Hofstra W 6-34.15.63 at Elon W 7-0 2.25.12 vs. Hofstra W 10-84.15.63 at Elon W 9-2 2.26.12 vs. Hofstra W 5-4

• Irish legendary skipper Jake Kline took the 1955 and 1963 squads to both Duke and Elon. Notre Dame opened ’55 in Durham against the host Blue Devils before playing Ohio and Yale. In ’63, the Irish spent their spring break trip in North Carolina and played Duke, Elon and Camp Lejeune.
• Notre Dame made trips to Duke and Wake Forest in 1988 and ’89. Notre Dame opened the ’88 campaign with a 14-11 victory over the Blue Devils, but lost the next three days. Murphy and Notre Dame returned to Durham in ’89 and split two meetings with Duke (also upended St. Bonaventure).

NORTH CAROLINA NATIVES ­– Notre Dame’s list of all-time baseball monogram winners includes 901 players who hail from 47 states, Washington, D.C., Panama and Ontario. Interestingly, the Irish have had only one player from the State of North Carolina earn a monogram (and it was just a single monogram at that). Cody Wilkins – a native of Hudson, N.C., and South Caldwell H.S. – was a left-handed pitcher for the Irish from 2001-04. Wilkins earned his only monogram as a senior in ’04.

• Freshman OF James Nevant hails from nearby Asheville, N.C. and T.C. Roberson H.S.

TALE OF THE TAPE

*2012 stats

NOTRE DAME-UMASS SERIES HISTORY — The Irish and Minutemen will meet for the first time in 120 years of Notre Dame baseball.

NOTRE DAME-UMASS CONNECTIONS — While the Irish and Minutemen have not faced off on the diamond, Notre Dame third-year head coach Mik Aoki is no stranger to Massachusetts.

• Aoki spent seven seasons at Boston College (2004-2010), including the last four as head coach.
• Aoki owns a 1-6 career record against the Minutemen, including 0-1 at Columbia and 1-5 at Boston College.
• Aoki was born in Yokohama, Japan, but considers Plymouth, Mass., his hometown.

MASSACHUSETTS NATIVES ­– Notre Dame’s list of all-time baseball monogram winners includes 901 players who hail from 47 states, Washington, D.C., Panama and Ontario. The Irish have had 47 players from the State of Massachusetts earn a monogram (sixth most of any state).

• Arguably Notre Dame’s most famous player from the State of Massachusetts is more known for his accomplishments on the gridiron. Angelo Bertelli (West Springfield/Cathedral H.S.) captured the 1943 Heisman Trophy and helped Frank Leahy’s Irish to the national championship.
• Shaun Fitzmaurice (Wellesley) earned monograms in 1963-64 and was a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic team that competed in Tokyo (baseball was an exhibition sport in ’64).
• Bob Lopes (New Bedford/New Bedford H.S.), who recently served on the Monogram Club Board of Directors, monogrammed from 1983-85 and went 10-11 in 143.2 career innings pitched.
• Tom Thornton (Middleboro/Middleboro H.S.) went 27-12 with a 3.79 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 332.2 innings of work. He was a co-captain of the 2006 squad that finished 45-17-1. Thornton led the Irish in ERA as a freshman in 2003 (1.81) and victories as a sophomore in 2004 (9-2). He started 53 games over his Notre Dame career, which is tied for the second most in school history.
• Notre Dame sophomore RHP Pat Connaughton (Arlington/St. John’s Prep) is the lone native of Massachusetts on the Irish roster in 2013.

NOTRE DAME-TENNESSEE SERIES HISTORY — The Irish and Volunteers have played five times in program history with Tennessee holding a 4-1 series advantage.

• The series dates back to Apr. 14, 1924, when the Irish travelled to Knoxville and lost 7-2.
• Notre Dame returned to Knoxville on Apr. 22, 1927, and proved victorious, 13-1.
• The Irish were swept in a doubleheader at Tennessee (2-4, 0-4) on Apr. 9, 1966.
• Notre Dame last played the Volunteers on Mar. 17, 1994, at the Seattle Kingdome. Tennessee knocked off the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, 8-5.

TENNESSEE NATIVES ­– Notre Dame’s list of all-time baseball monogram winners includes 901 players who hail from 47 states, Washington, D.C., Panama and Ontario. The Irish have had seven players from the State of Tennessee earn a monogram.

• Catcher and Tillahoma native Michael Campbell (who played for the program’s third and fourth teams, in 1895-96), a pair of RHPs from Memphis in Hugh Mageveney (1922-24; 20-5 career record) and Walt Mahannah (1946-49; 18-8), 2B Jack Moran (Memphis/Christian Brothers H.S., 1982-85), RHP Drew Duff (1999-02), OF Golden Tate (Hendersonville/Pope John Paul II H.S., 2009) and RHP Todd Miller (Franklin/Montgomery Bell Academy, 2008-11).

NOTRE DAME-VIRGINIA TECH SERIES HISTORY — The Irish lead the all-time series with the Hokies, 7-6. Twelve of the 13 all-time meetings between the two old BIG EAST rivals took place when each were members of the conference.

• Notre Dame and Virginia Tech first met on the diamond on Apr. 12, 1955 (Irish won in Blacksburg, 8-5).
• Notre Dame took two of three from Virginia Tech in its last series matchup. The Irish won sandwiched 9-0 and 2-1 victories around a 11-10 defeat.
• Virginia Tech handed Notre Dame four of its first 11 losses in the 2001 season (3-2, 9-8 in Blacksburg; 4-3 and 5-2 in the BIG EAST Tournament) but the Irish swept the Hokies in an April, 12 2002, doubleheader at Eck Stadium (2-1 in 11 innings, 4-2) before beating Virginia Tech in the crucial second game at the 2002 BIG EAST Tournament.
• Ryan Kalita (6 IP) and J.P. Gagne (5 IP) helped Notre Dame outlast Virginia Tech and ace left-hander Joe Saunders, 2-1, with Matt Bok delivering a pinch-hit triple and scoring the winning run in that 11-inning thriller in ’02.
• Peter Ogilvie then logged a complete-game victory in the 4-2 triumph.

NOTRE DAME-VIRGINIA TECH CONNECTIONS — The meeting is a reunion of sorts for Irish head coach Mik Aoki and Hokies’ skipper Pete Hughes. Hughes was the head coach at Boston College from 1999-2006 and brought Aoki on as the pitching coach in 2004. Aoki took over the Eagles when Hughes departed for Virginia Tech. The two were teammates and graduated from Davidson together in 1990.

• Hughes (Virginia Tech) owns a 4-3 series lead over Aoki (Boston College).
• Junior 3B Eric Jagielo was a teammate of Clark Labitan and Eddie Campbell with the Cape Cod League’s Harwich Mariners this past summer.

VIRGINIA NATIVES ­– Notre Dame’s list of all-time baseball monogram winners includes 901 players who hail from 47 states, Washington, D.C., Panama and Ontario. The Irish have had 11 players from the State of Virginia earn a monogram.

• Matt Edwards (Mechanicsville/Lee-Davis H.S.) played from 2002-05 and ranks among the top offensive players in school history. He batted .345 for his career with 34 home runs and 195 RBI. The 2005 BIG EAST tournament MVP, Edwards led the Irish in home runs and RBI in both 2003 (eight, 69) and 2005 (14, 68). He ranks sixth all-time in RBI, tied for sixth in home runs and tied for eighth in doubles (51).
• Frank Carpin (Richmond/Benedictine H.S.) set the Irish record for strikeouts in a game (19) en route to a then-Notre Dame record 102 strikeouts in the 1958 season – his only season with the Irish.
• Will Hudgins (Richmond/Douglas Freeman H.S.) played from 2009-12. A co-captain in ’12, he led the Irish with 90 strikeouts and a 2.06 ERA. Hudgins made 78 appearances over his career, which ranks fourth in school history. His .789 winning percentage (15-4) is tied for ninth best in school history. Hudgins shares the school record for strikeouts in a game at Frank Eck Stadium (12).
• Junior RHP Sean Fitzgerald (McLean/McLean H.S.) and sophomore OF Mac Hudgins (Richmond/Douglas Freeman H.S.) are the only Virginia natives on the Irish roster in 2013.

NOTRE DAME-RHODE ISLAND SERIES HISTORY — The Irish and Minutemen will meet for the first time in 120 years of Notre Dame baseball.

NOTRE DAME-RHODE ISLAND CONNECTIONS — Irish third-year head coach Mik Aoki posted a 2-0 record against Rhode Island as the skipper at Boston College.

RHODE ISLAND NATIVES ­– Notre Dame’s list of all-time baseball monogram winners includes 901 players who hail from 47 states, Washington, D.C., Panama and Ontario. The Irish have had four players from the State of Rhode Island earn a monogram.

THOUGH SHALL NOT ISSUE A FREE PASS — Notre Dame senior RHP Adam Norton led the NCAA in fewest walks per nine innings (0.64) and ranked third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (8.71) in 2012. Both totals topped the BIG EAST categories as well. Norton fanned 61 and issued seven free passes (two intentional) in 98.0 innings of work.

• Norton pitched into the sixth inning in each of his first nine starts and worked into the seventh inning nine different times in 2012. He collected seven quality starts.
• Norton failed to issue a single walk in nine of his 15 starts in 2012. He walked more than one batter just once.
• Norton was just shy of the school record for fewest walks per nine innings pitched.
• Norton also owns the school record in both fewest career walks per nine innings pitched and strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Fewest Walks Per 9 IP (min. 30 IP) BB/9 IP (BB/IP) Fewest Walks Per 9 IP (min. 60 IP) BB/9 IP (BB/IP)1. Tom Price (1994) 0.58 (9/140.1) 1. Adam Norton (2010-) 1.26 (25/178.2)2. Adam Norton (2012) 0.64 (7/98.0) 2. Brandon Viloria (2000-03) 1.61 (15/83.2)3. Tom Thornton (2006) 0.77 (7/82.1) 3. Alan Walania (1990-93) 1.64 (59/324.0)4. David Mills (2010) 0.89 (3/30.1) 4. Todd Miller (2008-11) 1.70 (28/148.2)5. Todd Miller (2011) 1.22 (11/81.1) 5. David Mills (2007-10) 1.70 (13/68.2)6. Scott Cavey (1999) 1.23 (8/58.1) 6. Sean Fitzgerald (2011-) 1.71 (22/116.0)7. Alan Walania (1990) 1.29 (10/70.0) 7. Tom Thornton (2003-06) 1.73 (64/332.2)8. James Cross (1985) 1.33 (9/61.0) 8. Tom Price (1991-94) 1.85 (80/390.0)9. Danny Tamayo (2001) 1.36 (17/112.2) 9. Brad Cross (1983-86) 1.88 (27/129.1)10. Eric Maust (2007) 1.42 (7/44.1) 10. Chris Niesel (2002-04) 1.88 (57/272.2)

Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio (min. 60 IP) Ratio (SO/BB)1. Adam Norton (2010-) 5.08 (127/25)2. Chris Niesel (2002-04) 4.09 (233/57)3. Alan Walania (1990-93) 4.00 (236/59)4. Sean Fitzgerald (2011-) 3.86 (85/22)5. Aaron Heilman (1998-2001) 3.66 (425/116)6. Ryan Doherty (2003-05) 3.62 (134/37)7. Nick Palihnich (1959-61) 3.59 (115/32)8. Tom Price (1991-94) 3.54 (276/78)

MCCARTY STILL PERFECT — Freshman RHP Nick McCarty is 2-0 on the season and has yet to allow a run in 10.0 innings of work out of the Irish bullpen.

• McCarty entered the series finale at Tulane in the bottom of the sixth inning with Notre Dame clinging to a two-run lead (5-3). The rookie proceeded to retire the next nine Green Wave batters, including seven by ground out. He issued a walk and allowed a base hit to open the ninth inning, but evaded damage following a fly out and game-ending 5-4-3 double play. McCarty added a scoreless inning of relief and hold in Friday night’s season-opening victory.
• McCarty picked up the victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 16 with 5.0 scoreless innings of relief in his Notre Dame debut. He limited Florida Gulf Coast to four singles and did not issue a walk, along with four strikeouts. McCarty was the first Irish rookie to pick up a victory in the season opener since Grant Johnson on Feb. 22, 2002.
• McCarty was named to the BIG EAST honor roll on Feb. 18. He was first Notre Dame freshman pitcher to receive BIG EAST honor roll accolades since Sean Fitzgerald on Apr. 4, 2011.
• FITZGERALD LIKES CREOLE — Junior RHP Sean Fitzgerald limited Tulane to one earned run on four hits in 6.1 innings of work and registered his first victory of the season on Feb. 22. He struck out two and did not issue a walk. Fitzgerald retired 15 straight Green Wave batters at one point in the game and 16 of the first 18 batters he faced. In fact, he faced the minimum over the first six innings of the contest. Fitzgerald did not work to a three-ball count until the bottom of the seventh.
• Fitzgerald has made two career starts in the State of Louisiana – Feb. 22 against Tulane and last year against No. 11 LSU. He has registered victories in each outing and has allowed just two earned runs in 14.1 innings of work. Fitzgerald has combined to fan six and walk one.
• Fitzgerald was named to the BIG EAST honor roll – one week after McCarty registered a similar honor.

SLANIA HEADLINES A DOMINANT BULLPEN — Notre Dame junior RHP Dan Slania is one of the top closers in college baseball. He has already been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award watch list. Slania captured the 2012 Russ Ford Award (given to the top relief pitcher in the Cape Cod League. He led the Cape with 10 saves and helped Cotuit post the league’s best regular-season record (30-14). Slania went 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA and 39 punch outs.

• Slania led the BIG EAST in saves (13), games finished (29), appearances (31) and relief appearances (31) in 2012. He owned a 3-0 record with a 2.03 ERA in 31.0 innings of work. Slania struck out 37 and walked 12.
• Slania has been outstanding as a closer/late inning reliever over his three years with the Irish. He owns a career record of 5-3 with a 2.04 ERA and 19 saves.

Year   era w-l app gs cg sho sv ip h r er bb so b/avg2011 2.35 2-3 23 0 0 0/4 4 30.2 28 12 8 9 20 .2522012 2.03 3-0 31 0 0 0/2 13 31.0 36 10 7 12 37 .3002013 0.00 0-0 3 0 0 0/0 2 4.2 2 0 0 2 4 .133Total 2.04 5-3 57 0 0 0/6 19 66.1 66 22 15 23 61 .268

• Slania’s 2.04 career ERA is the best in school history for a pitcher with at least 60.0 innings pitched.
• Slania’s 31 appearances in 2012 are tied for the second-most in single-season school history. It was the most appearances by an Irish hurler since Aaron Heilman had 31 in 1998.

Career ERA (min. 60 IP) Single-Season Appearances1. Dan Slania (2011-) 2.04 (15/66.1) 1. Mike Coffey (1989) 372. Mike Dury (2004-07) 2.20 (20/81.2) 2. Dan Slania (2012) 313. Nick Palihnich (1959-61) 2.36 (39/148.2) Aaron Heilman (1998) 314. Jack Mitchell (1959-61) 2.49 (41/148.1) 4. John Corbin (2000) 305. Aaron Heilman (1998-2001) 2.49 (109/393.2) J.P. Gagne (2003) 306. Larry Mohs (1994-97) 2.52 (33/117.2) Ryan Doherty (2004) 307. Brandon Viloria (2000-03) 2.58 (24/83.2) Kyle Weiland (2006) 308. Phil Donnelly (1961-63) 2.64 (33/112.2) 8. Joe Thaman (2004) 299. Ryan Doherty (2003-05) 2.84 (31/98.1) 9. Chris Michalak (1990) 2810. Tom Price (1991-94) 2.84 (123/390.0) John Corbin (1999) 28J.P. Gagne (2002) 28Dan Kapala (2004) 28

• Slania’s 13 saves in 2012 ranks tied for second in single-season Notre Dame history, while his 19 career saves are tied for fourth in school history.

Single-Season Saves Career Saves1. Kyle Weiland (2006) 16 1. Kyle Weiland (2006-08) 252. Dan Slania (2012) 13 2. John Corbin (1997-2000) 20J.P. Gagne (2003) 13 Ryan Doherty (2003-05) 204. Ryan Doherty (2004) 12 4. Dan Slania (2011-) 195. John Corbin (2000) 11 J.P. Gagne (2000-03) 196. Mike Coffey (1989) 10 6. Mike Coffey (1988-90) 12Aaron Heilman (1998) 9 Chris Michalak (1990-93) 12John Corbin (1999) 9 Aaron Heilman (1998-2001) 129. Ryan Doherty (2005) 7 9. Larry Mohs (1994-97) 10Steven Mazur (2010) 7 10. Rich Sauget (1994-96) 9Kyle Weiland (2008) 7 Steven Mazur (2007-10) 9

JAGIELO EARNS RAVE REVIEWS — Third-year Notre Dame head coach Mik Aoki raved about the hitting prowess of junior 3B Eric Jagielo as a rookie in 2011, but the Downers Grove, Ill., native had an up-and-down first year. Jagielo batted .269 with 13 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 28 RBI, but took off in 2012.

• Jagielo, a second-team all-BIG EAST selection, batted .310 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 43 RBI in 2012. He was the first Notre Dame sophomore with double-figure home runs since 2004 when Craig Cooper (10) and Matt Bransfield (12) accomplished the feat. Jagielo ranked among the top-10 in the BIG EAST in home runs (second), slugging (fourth) and total bases (fifth).
• In BIG EAST games only, Jagielo ranked tied for third in home runs (five) and tied for eighth in walks (14). Jagielo had 20 multi-hit games, which ranked third on the Irish, including eight three-hit affairs (tops on Notre Dame). He also ranked second on Notre Dame in multi-RBI contests with 11, including a season-high five RBI in the victory over Georgetown on Apr. 20, 2012.
• Jagielo has not only started every game of his Irish career – a span of 117 games dating back to the start of 2011 – but he has hit in the three hole from the start.
• Jagielo is a career .300 hitter with 21 home runs and 83 RBI in 117 games. Here is a look at his career statistics.

Year avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb ob%2011 .269 53-53 201 32 54 13 1 5 28 84 .418 25 .3552012 .310 58-58 229 33 71 15 0 13 43 125 .546 28 .3992013 .500 6-6 20 5 10 2 0 3 12 21 1.050 4 .571TOTAL .300 117-117 450 70 135 30 1 21 83 230 .511 57 .389

• Jagielo currently leads the BIG EAST in slugging percentage (1.050), RBI (12), total bases (21), tied in home runs (three), tied in sacrifice flies (two), and ranks fourth in batting average (.500) and tied for fifth in on-base percentage (.571).
• Jagielo continued his torrid start to the 2013 season. He batted .444 (4-for-9) with a double, home run, two runs scored and four RBI in the three-game sweep of Tulane. He registered a slugging percentage of .889 and on-base percentage of .462. Jagielo provided all the offense the Irish would need in Friday night’s 2-1 victory. He smacked a two-run home run in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie. Jagielo went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly in the 3-1 triumph on Saturday and finished the weekend with a multi-hit game on Sunday. Jagielo went 2-for-4 in the series finale with another sacrifice fly.
• Jagielo batted .545 (6-for-11) for the weekend with a double, two home runs and eight RBI. His batting average was the fifth-best by an Irish player over the season’s opening weekend since 1995 and none of the previous four players with a higher batting average had multiple home runs. Jagielo posted a slugging percentage of 1.182, on-base percentage of .667 and OPS of 1.849.
• Jagielo opened the season with a 2-for-4 effort against Florida Gulf Coast, including a massive two-run home run to centerfield in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game, 5-5, before Notre Dame won in the bottom of the 10th. He followed up that performance with a three-hit game in a 13-3 rout of Ohio State. Jagielo went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a three-run home run and career-high five RBI. He was named Perfect Game’s top player across the nation from Saturday’s contests.
• Jagielo is the only player in the BIG EAST to make the league honor roll in each of the first two weeks of the season.

TREY “BOOM-BOOM” MANCINI — Junior 1B Trey Mancini, who was named second-team all-BIG EAST, hit .317 with 47 runs scored, 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 45 RBI in 2012. He recorded a .545 slugging percentage and .395 on-base percentage. Mancini and Jagielo were the first Notre Dame sophomore tandem with double-figure home runs since 2004 when Craig Cooper (10) and Matt Bransfield (12) accomplished the feat.

• Mancini had 17 multi-hit games, including a four-hit affair and seven three-hit games. Mancini also led the Irish in multi-RBI contests with 15, including a trio of three RBI outings. He ranked tied for third in the BIG EAST in home runs (12), fifth in slugging percentage (.575), tied for seventh in RBI (45) and tied for seventh in runs scored (47).
• Mancini is a career .321 hitter with 22 home runs and 84 RBI in 113 games. Here is a look at his career statistics.

Year avg gp-gs ab r h 2b 3b hr rbi tb slg% bb ob%2011 .323 53-52 189 33 61 15 3 9 34 109 .577 19 .3852012 .317 54-54 202 47 64 10 0 12 45 110 .545 22 .3952013 .333 6-6 26 1 9 0 2 1 5 16 .615 2 .379TOTAL .321 113-112 417 81 134 25 5 22 84 235 .564 43 .389

• Mancini was named 2011 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year after leading Notre Dame in Notre Dame in batting (.323), hits (61), doubles (15), triples (three), home runs (nine), RBI (34), total bases (109), slugging percentage (.577), on-base percentage (.385), multiple hit games (17), multiple RBI games (nine) and runs scored (33).
• Mancini was the first Irish rookie and eighth player in program history to lead Notre Dame in all three triple-crown categories (batting average, home runs and RBI). He also was named third team all-BIG EAST and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.

RATHER FRANK EVERYDAY — Senior co-captain 2B Frank Desico is a three-year monogram winner that has started 164 of Notre Dame’s last 166 games. He has hit in the leadoff spot in all six games this season and 83 times over his career.

• DeSico went hitless in his first four plate appearances of the 2013 season, but followed with a walk-off RBI single to lead the Irish past Florida Gulf Coast, 6-5, in 10 innings on Feb. 16. He then doubled, homered and singled twice in his first four times to the plate against Ohio State as Notre Dame routed the Buckeyes, 13-3. DeSico’s four hits spearheaded an Irish offense that totaled 16 against Ohio State. He drove in two and scored four runs.
• DeSico earned Dean’s List for the first time with a 3.778 GPA over 17.5 credit hours in the ’12 fall semester.

BULLISH EFFORT — Sophomore LF/DH Ryan Bull is hitting a crisp .458 this season with a team-best 11 hits, as well as one home run and three RBI. He spent the first five games of the year in the No. 5 hole, but moved into the No. 2 spot and exploded for a career-best four hits in the series finale at Tulane on Feb. 24.

• Bull went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, one coming on his first home run of the season and second of his career.
• Bull is tied with Mancini and Jagielo for tops on the squad with three multi-hit games. He already has a pair of three-hit games and a four-hit outing over Notre Dame’s first six contests.

OPPONENTS — Notre Dame has faced 308 opponents entering its 120th year of varsity baseball. Recent first-time opponents include: Liberty, Albany, Lehigh, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Buffalo and Mississippi Valley State (2008); Gonzaga and Grambling (2009); Manhattan, Seattle and UAB (2011); Hofstra, Houston Baptist and Kansas (2012).

• Four first-time foes are on the 2013 slate: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Cal Poly and Quinnipiac. After those games, the program will have faced 199 of 291 current D-I teams (68.4%).
• Notre Dame’s most common opponents: Western Michigan (133), Northwestern (131 games), Michigan State (131), Michigan (129), Purdue (121) and Wisconsin (119).
• Noteworthy teams that Notre Dame has yet to face (pre-2013): Oklahoma State, Maryland, VCU, East Carolina, Southern Mississippi and UNLV.

FAR & WIDE — Notre Dame’s 2013 roster includes 35 players from 17 different home states.

• The top 10 position players and top three starting pitchers hail from 10 different states, including three from Illinois, two from Ohio and one each from Florida, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Minnesota, Virginia and Indiana.

ROAD TRIPPERS — Notre Dame will be playing its first 17 games away from home, in six different cities: Sarasota, Fla., New Orleans, Cary, N.C. and Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Calif.

• The Irish then will spend virtually all of Apr. (12 of 17 games) in the friendly confines of Eck Stadium, including the first seven games of the month.
• Notre Dame’s final seven games of the regular season will all take place on the road, including BIG EAST three-game series at St. John’s (May 11-12) and at Cincinnati (May 16-18). The Irish will also travel to Western Michigan on May 14.

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION — Notre Dame captured five of its nine BIG EAST series in 2012, including four of its last six. The Irish had not collected more conference series victories in one season since 2006. The ’06 Notre Dame club captured seven BIG EAST series and posted a 45-17-1 overall record and 21-5-1 mark in conference play.

• Notre Dame registered 31 victories in 2012, the most by the Irish since the 2009 campaign. Notre Dame managed just 23 and 22, respectively, in 2011 and 2010.
• Notre Dame picked up multiple victories and advanced to the BIG EAST tournament semifinals for the first time since 2009. In fact, it only marked the second time the Irish have accomplished the feat since 2006.

WALKING A TIGHTROPE — Notre Dame played a pair of one-run games at the season-opening Snowbird Classic and another one-run affair in the series opener at Tulane. The Irish topped Florida Gulf Coast, 6-5, in 10 innings, lost to Mercer, 5-4, and upended the Green Wave, 2-1.

• The nip-and-tuck battles are nothing new to Notre Dame. The Irish played 18 games decided by one run in 2012. Notre Dame went 11-7 in those outings. In fact, the Irish also played in 20 such games in 2011 as well (going 10-10).
• In all, Notre Dame has played in 41 different one-run contests since third-year head coach Mik Aoki arrived on campus. That’s 41 of 117 games or just over 35 percent of Aoki’s tenure in an Irish uniform.
• The 11 wins by a single run in 2012 is tied for the most in single-season school history (1990, 1981).
• Notre Dame established the school record for most games decided by a single run in 2011. The 2001 squad also played in 18 games decided by the slimmest of margins.
• Here is a look at the top 10 seasons in terms of most games decided by a single run and those teams records in those contests.

Rank Year 1-run Games Record Rank Year 1-run Wins1. 2011 20 10-10 1. 1990 112. 2001 18 9-9 1981 113. 2002 17 9-8 3. 2012 112009 17 10-7 2011 105. 2012 18 11-7 2009 101981 16 11-5 2004 107. 1997 15 9-6 1999 101990 15 11-4 1998 101998 15 10-5 9. 2003 92004 15 10-5 2002 92001 91997 91992 91967 9 (9-0)

• Notre Dame played in nine more games decided by two runs in 2012. In all, 27 of Notre Dame’s 58 games were decided by two runs or less.
• Over the last three seasons (including 2013), 59 of Notre Dame’s 117 games (over 50 percent) have been decided by two runs or less.

IRISH DIG THE LONG BALL — Notre Dame hit 36 home runs in 2012, which led the BIG EAST. The Irish registered just 18 long balls in 2011 and only three teams in the conference had fewer.

• Notre Dame was the only team in the BIG EAST with a pair of players with 10 or more home runs. Eric Jagielo (13) and Trey Mancini (12) combined for 25 round trippers. Jagielo was second in the BIG EAST, while Mancini ranked tied for third in the league.
• Jagielo and Mancini form one of the nation’s top power-hitting duos. They are the only returning tandem in the country with 12 or more home runs last year.
• Prior to last season, Notre Dame had not had multiple players with 10 or more home runs in the same season since 2009, when Jeremy Barnes (15) and A.J. Pollock (10) accomplished the feat.
• Mancini and Jagielo were the first set of sophomore to collect double digit home runs in the same season for the Irish since 2004. Matt Bransfield and Craig Cooper hit 12 and 10, respectively, that season.
• Mancini and Jagielo went back-to-back with home runs on two separate occasions in 2012. The duo smacked consecutive home runs against Michigan on Mar. 11 and then did the same feat against Northwestern on May 15.

IRISH STAFF MAKES YOU EARN IT — As an entire staff, Notre Dame issued 160 walks in 511.2 innings in 2012. The Irish posted a 2.61 strikeout-to-walk ratio and averaged just 2.81 free passes per nine innings pitched.

• Notre Dame walked two or less in 30 different games in 2012. The Irish did not walk a single batter in a game six times.
• Here is the top five in a number of single-season pitching categories:

Rank SO/BB Ratio Year Rank BB Allowed/9 IP Year1. 2.95 (504/171) 2006 1. 2.48 (151/547.2) 20012. 2.78 (420/151) 2001 2. 2.63 (162/554.2) 20043. 2.69 (436/162) 2004 3. 2.67 (143/481.2) 20114. 2.61 (417/160) 2012 4. 2.81 (160/511.2) 20125. 2.57 (368/143) 2011 5. 2.82 (161/513.0) 1994

• Notre Dame led the BIG EAST in fewest walks in 2012. The Irish also the league in the same category in 2011.

FRESHMAN FORCE — Notre Dame’s 2013 opening-day lineup included two seniors, three juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen. It marked the second consecutive season opener that three freshmen appearned in the Irish starting lineup. The only season opener over the last 19 years with more than three freshman starters was 2003.

Notre Dame Freshman Starters
1995 – no freshman starters
1996 – Jeff Wagner (C), Paul Turco (SS)
1997 – Brant Ust (2B), Jeff Felker (1B), Jeff Perconte (RF platoon)
1998 – Alec Porzel (LF)
1999 – Steve Stanley (CF),Paul O’Toole (C),Andrew Bushey (3B)
2000 – Brian Stavisky (RF)
2001 – Steve Sollmann (2B)
2002 – Matt Macri (SS,injured)
2003 – Craig Cooper (LF), Cody Rizzo (RF), Greg Lopez (3B), Steve Andres (DH)
2004 – none (Danny Dressman later started 28 games)
2005 – Brett Lilley (2B/3B), Ross Brezovsky (3B/2B)
2006 – none (Jeremy Barnes later had 55 GS)
2007 – Billy Boockford (RF), A.J. Pollock (3B), Michael Wright (LF)
2008 – David Casey (DH), Mick Doyle (3B)
2009 – None
2010 – None (2B Frank Desico later had 47 GS and Adam Norton had 31)
2011 – Eric Jagielo (1B) (1B Trey Mancini later had 52 GS)
2012 – Mac Hudgins (CF), Phil Mosey (3B), Ryan Bull (DH)
2013 – James Nevant (RF), Lane Richards (SS) Zak Kutsulis (LF)

NOTABLE ALUMNI — Notre Dame’s 901 baseball monogram winners include several in successful administrative careers: recently retired Notre Dame Alumni Association executive director Chuck Lennon (C; 1960-61); former Notre Dame assistant vice president for special events Jim Gibbons (P/OF; 1952-53); former U.S. Congressman from Ohio Ron Mottl (RHP; 1955); former Mid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst (OF; 1981-83); former Xavier associate vice president/athletic director and current Georgia Tech athletic director Mike Bobinski (P; 1978-79); recent Indiana governor Joe Kernan (C; 1967-68); Major League Baseball executive John McHale (1B; 1943); and former Notre Dame athletics director Dick Rosenthal (1B; 1952-53).

• Brad Lidge ranked as one of MLB’s top rookies in his first full season with the Houston Astros and was the winning pitcher in the historic no-hitter versus the New York Yankees on June 11, 2003 – the first no hitter versus the Yankees since 1958 (6,980 games). Lidge set the NL record for strikeouts by a reliever in 2004 and currently pitches for the Washington Nationals. Six other recent Irish hurlers have pitched in MLB, including Aaron Heilman (’01) with the N.Y. Mets, Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks, Jeff Samardzija (’06) with the Chicago Cubs, Jeff Manship (’06) with the Minnesota Twins, John Axford with the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers, Christian Parker and David Phelps with the Yankees and Kyle Weiland (’09) with the Boston Red Sox, while two early-1990s Notre Dame players – INF Craig Counsell (’92) and LHP Chris Michalak (’93) – have played for multiple MLB teams.
• Notre Dame had seven former players appear in a MLB game in 2012, including Axford (Brewers), Lidge (Phillies), Manship (Twins), Samardzija (Cubs), Weiland (Red Sox), Phelps (Yankees) and A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks).
• The remaining 10 members of the BIG EAST Conference had 14 former players participate in an MLB game in 2012.
• Phelps (’08) made his big league debut for the New York Yankees on Apr. 8, 2012, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Phelps then tossed 2.1 perfect innings of relief with four strikeouts against the Baltimore Orioles on Apr. 10.
• Pollock (’09) made his big league debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Apr. 18, 2012, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He started in centerfield and batted seventh in the order.
• A total of 73 all-time former Notre Dame players have suited up in an MLB uniform – more than any other BIG EAST school and tied for fifth-most in Division I history.

IRISH PICKED THIRD BY BIG EAST COACHES — Notre Dame was picked to finish third in the 2013 BIG EAST preseason baseball poll, as determined by a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches. The Irish received a total of 81 points.

Team Points
1. Louisville (8) 98
2. St. John’s (3) 82
3. Notre Dame 81
4. Connecticut 74
5. USF 67
6. Seton Hall 52
7. Pittsburgh 46
8. Rutgers 43
9. Cincinnati 30
10. Georgetown 18
11. Villanova 14

PLENTY OF WAYS TO FOLLOW THE IRISH — Notre Dame baseball fans will have several options for tracking the 2013 season on a game-by-game basis, through live streaming video (home games), live-audio broadcasts, Live Blogs (home games), GameTracker live stats, free Irish Alert text messages and Twitter (@NDBaseball, @NDsidBertschy) & Facebook (NDBaseball) pages.

• Live radio broadcasts are available in the South Bend area on WHME 103.1 FM (Notre Dame baseball is part of a small percentage of programs in the nation with its entire season airing live on a commercial station). All games are streamed live on und.com, with the links posted on the bottom of the und.com main page. The online broadcasts are free of charge, as part of a quick signup with Fighting Irish All-Access (which includes archives or all audio and video content). See All-Access signup link via the multimedia gold button at the top of each und.com page
• Irish ALERT free text-message updates are available to your cell phone or other mobile devices. See link at the top of the baseball page under multimedia tab at und.com.
• GameTracker live stats are provided for every game (based on internet availability). When Notre Dame is on the road, the home team typically provides the live stats – with bonus GameTracker stats also provided by the Notre Dame SID office for select road games.
• Complete coverage of each and every Irish home game through live streaming video.

Irish On Your Radio Dial ­– Beginning with the 2008-09 athletics year, the Notre Dame athletics department announced it had partnered with the LeSEA Broadcasting Network, making WHME / Harvest 103.1 FM the new radio home of Notre Dame baseball in the South Bend market.

• Baseball game broadcasts also continue to be streamed live and free of charge on Notre Dame’s official athletics web site (www.UND.com) through the Fighting Irish All-Access multimedia package.