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 put
the finishing touches on an impressive Notre Dame pitching weekend
while the Irish offense continued its torrid pace, as Notre Dame
defeated visiting Georgetown, 12-1, to sweep the Big East
Conference weekend series.
Notre Dame (37-17, 15-6 Big East)--which is now 23-2 at home this
season--broke open a sluggish game with three runs in both the
fifth and sixth innings before tacking on four more runs in the
seventh. Georgetown (19-37-1, 8-15) averted the shutout by pushing
across a run in the eighth versus reliever Mike Balicki.
McKeown (3-3) allowed just five hits and a walk over seven
shutouts innings while striking out four Hoyas batters. He faced a
total of 25 batters, just four above the seven-inning minimum,
thanks to Steven Buckley's inning-ending double play in the
seventh and an alert pickoff move in the third inning that
thwarted Kevin DeSanto's attempted steal of third base. McKeown
has allowed just two earned runs in his last five starts (32
innings) while lowering his season ERA to 3.72.
Notre Dame outscored Georgetown 37-2 in the series (14-0, 11-1 on
Saturday) while pounding out 14 hits in each of the three games.
McKeown became the third straight Irish starter to face just four
batters above the minimum, as righthander Darin Schmalz (seven
innings) and Alex Shilliday (eight innings) did the same in
Saturday's action. The Irish defense rounded out the solid
all-around weekend, as Notre Dame made just one error Sunday and
two in the series (the Irish had been averaging 2.3 errors and 1.7
unearned runs allowed per game prior to the weekend).
Freshman shortstop Brant Ust put the finishing touches on his run
at Big East rookie of the year honors, batting 4-for-4 in Sunday's
game with three RBI and two runs scored, plus a triple, a double,
two singles and a walk. Sophomore DH Jeff Wagner went 2-for-3
while 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 lead
after four innings. The Irish then scored three runs in the fifth,
managing just one hit while capitalizing on two walks, a passed
ball, a wild pitch, two errors on one play and Todd Frye's
conference-leading 12th sacrifice bunt of the season.
Randall Brooks reached an error to lead off the bottom of the
sixth and moved to second on a wild pitch before scoring on
Wagner's two-out blast off the scoreboard in left-center field.
Ust then followed with a triple to the gap in right-center before
Allen Greene's infield single scored Ust for an 8-0 Irish lead.
Notre Dame's three-run seventh was highlighted by freshman pitcher
John Corbin's first career hit (an RBI single to center) and Ust's
two-out, two-run double over the head of centerfielder Matt
O'Brien.
Senior righthander Larry Mohs closed out the game in the ninth,
striking out two of the four batters he faced while lowering his
season 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 batting
average 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 the
team slugging percentage record, checking in at .540 (the '93 team
holds the record of .519). Wagner's home run was Notre Dame's 62nd
of the season, tying the 1991 Irish squad for second-most in team
history 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 Ust
give the Irish 114 doubles for the season, second-most in Irish
history and 11 off the record mark (set in '93). Ust's triple was
Notre Dame's 34th of the season, tying the '95 squad for second
all-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 28-6
since a forgettable 0-3 series at Seton Hall on March 22-23 (which
left the team record at 9-11). Notre Dame's conference winning
percentage (.714) ranks tops among all 11 Big East teams, just
ahead of West Virginia's .708.
Big East Update: St. John's won Sunday's first game at West
Virginia, 12-6, but the Mountaineers came back to take the
nightcap, 7-4, giving WVU (17-7) the American Division title over
the Red Storm (16-7) ... Seton Hall will face WVU on May 13 in
first-day action at the Big East Tournament (May 13-16 in
Norwich, Conn.) while the divisional runner-ups, St. John's and
Rutgers, will meet in another opening game ... Notre Dame is off
for finals and will take a four-day break from competition (its
longest since early March) before hosting IUPUI (May 9, 7 PM) and
the University of Chicago (May 10, noon) ... the Irish will face
either Villanova or Connecticut to open the Big East Tournament
(the choice of the sixth team will be made by a selection
committee on Tuesday morning, with UConn set to play at Boston
College on Monday at 4 PM) ... Villanova on Sunday completed a
three-game home sweep of Rutgers (7-6, 8-6) to even its record at
12-12 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 home
runs in a season, joining Frank Jacobs (20 in '91), Tim Hutson (18
in '88) and Ryan Topham (18 in '95) ... Wagner also has 40
singles, 20 doubles and a triple in 197 at-bats, for a .746
season slugging percentage that ranks 2nd in Irish history (Dan
Peltier posted a .783 in '89) ... no Irish player has collected
more home runs as a freshman and sophomore than Wagner, whose 26
career homers already rank 8th in Irish history, just two out of a
share of 6th ... Amrhein's double was the 48th of his career,
moving him into a tie with Joe Binkiewicz (1989-92) for 4th in
Irish history (two behind Craig Counsell's 50) ... Amrhein scored
three times on Sunday, giving him 190 career runs scored (5th in
Irish history, moving past Scott Sollmann's 187) ... Amrhein and
Ust have cracked Notre Dame's single season run scored list, with
Amrhein checking in at 9th (65) and Ust 10th (64) ... Notre Dame
has posted no errors (three times) or one error in nine of its
last 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 (including
Sollmann in '96) ... Ust leads all Big East freshmen in batting
average (.389), home runs (10, tying for most ever by an Irish
freshman) 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 0
Kevin DeSanto dh.......... 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 Jeff Perconte rf.......... 5 0 1 0 0 2 2 0
Sean Mignogna lf.......... 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 Pat O'Keefe rf............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tom Farley 1b............. 2 0 1 0 1 1 6 0 Mike Amrhein c............ 4 3 1 1 1 0 6 0
Matt Dzamba 1b............ 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jeff Wagner dh............ 3 2 2 2 1 0 0 0
Andrew Mariniello 3b...... 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 John Corbin ph............ 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
Joseph Marchese ph........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brant Ust ss.............. 4 2 4 3 1 0 3 6
Scott Fergerson ss/2b..... 3 0 2 0 0 0 3 2 Allen Greene lf........... 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 0
Alex Offutt ph............ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Dan Leatherman lf......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Steven Buckley c.......... 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 1 Jeff Felker 1b............ 5 1 1 0 0 1 9 0
Tom Moran c............... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Todd Frye 2b.............. 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 2
Pat Hart 2b............... 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 Paul Turco 2b............. 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Josh Corman ss............ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 J.J. Brock 3b............. 4 1 1 1 1 0 0 2
Tim Mooney rf............. 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Chris McKeown p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
Andrew Losty rf........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Balicki p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Franklin Jarman p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Larry Mohs p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Derek Pines p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Rich Angowski p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ben Becchetti p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals.................... 33 1 9 1 1 6 24 9 Totals.................... 38 12 14 11 4 4 27 14
Score by innings: R H E
----------------------------------------------
Georgetown 000 000 010 - 1 9 4
Univ. 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 25
Derek Pines......... 2.0 3 3 0 0 2 9 11 Mike Balicki........ 1.0 4 1 1 0 0 6 6
Rich Angowski....... 1.0 3 4 3 1 0 6 8 Larry Mohs.......... 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 3 4
Ben Becchetti....... 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 4 4
Winner - 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), Tom
Moran(1). CI - S. Buckley.
HBP - by F. Jarman (Allen Greene), by R. Angowski (Rand. Brooks), by Larry
Mohs (J. Marchese).
Start: 12:00 Time: 2:46 Attendance: 652
F. 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.
