Feb. 23, 2001
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Senior righthander Aaron Heilman picked up his 30th career victory at Notre Dame while sophomore rightfielder Brian Stavisky continued his torrid start and senior shortstop Alec Porzel delivered two key doubles, as the 11th-ranked Irish baseball team defeated Texas-San Antonio, 8-3, in Friday-night action at V.J. Keefe Stadium in the Alamo Invitational.
Notre Dame (3-1) claimed an early 2-0 lead after Porzel’s two-out double to the left-center gap and RBI singles from Stavisky (on a 1-2 count) and sophomore leftfielder Kris Billmaier. Porzel then delivered the big blow in the three-run third, driving a two-run double down the leftfield line.
Heilman (2-0) pushed his career record to 30-7 (just three all-time Irish pitchers own more wins) after working out of a couple early jams in his six-inning outing. The All-American righthander allowed just one run on five hits and one walk while posting eight strikeouts-marking his 16th career appearance with eight-plus Ks.
Stavisky-the reigning national player of the week-pushed his season batting average to .750 (12-for-16), after collecting a pair of opposite-field singles to left before drawing his fourth and fifth walks of the season (the last coming intentional) followed by his third single of the game, in the eighth inning.
Billmaier led the Irish with a three-RBI night, thanks to a first-inning single, a third-inning groundout and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the seventh.
The Irish stretched to the final cushion with two runs in the eighth, capped by Stavisky’s RBI single to right field.
Porzel’s pair of doubles moved him past former teammate Brant Ust (51, 1997-99) into fifth on the Irish all-time doubles list (53), just five behind 1997 graduate Mike Amrhein.
UTSA (4-8) had plenty of early chances, leaving the bases loaded in the first inning before stranding a pair of runners in the third (en route to 11 LOB for the game). Junior lefthander Hector Rodriguez (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings (with six Ks).
Heilman dropped his career ERA to 2.75, just shy of fifth place in the ND record book (currently held by 1990 graduate Brian Piotrowicz, 2.72). The only all-time Irish pitchers who have won more games than Heilman (30) include Tom Price (40-10, `91-’94), Chris Michalak (34-13, `90-’93) and David Sinnes (32-8, `90-’93).
Texas-San Antonio 0-0-0 1-0-0 1-1-0 – 3 9 2
#11 Notre Dame 2-0-3 0-0-0 1-2-X – 8 11 2
Hector Rodriguez, Elwood McGinnis (7), Kevin Carrejo and Matt McIntyre.
Aaron Heilman, Mike Naumann (7), J.P. Gagne (7), Matt Laird (9) and Paul O’Toole.
Win – Heilman (2-0). Loss – Rodriguez (0-1).
Doubles: Alec Porzel (ND) 2, Steve Stanley (ND), Joe Thaman (ND), Mark Schramek (UTSA), Matt McIntyre (UTSA), Bobby Alford (UTSA).