March 16, 2000

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Junior All-American Aaron Heilman posted 11 strikeouts in his second complete game of the season and the Notre Dame offense again scratched out enough runs to secure the win, as the Irish downed Iowa, 3-2, in continuing Kennel Club Classic action Thursday at Harmon Stadium.

Notre Dame (10-3) totaled nine hits, with senior first baseman Jeff Felker and freshman rightfielder Brian Stavisky each collecting two hits, while junior shortstop Alec Porzel hit his second home run of the season.

Heilman (3-1) allowed six hits and two runs without walking a batter, winning his third straight decision while boosting his career record to 21-6.

Iowa righthander Nick Jensen (0-2) worked five innings, giving up two runs on three hits and one walk, with one strikeout.

Iowa (3-1) staked a 1-0 lead in the third inning, as third baseman Ian Mattiace lifted a one-out single to left, stole second and went to third when sophomore catcher Paul O’Toole’s throw skipped into the outfield. Brian Burks drove in the run with a two-out, 0-1 single to left.

Notre Dame claimed the lead with two runs in the fourth. Porzel tied the game by launching a one-out, 3-0 pitch over the wall in left-center field. Stavisky then ripped a two-out triple just inside the first-base bag and scored on a wild pitch for the 2-1 lead.

Notre Dame added another run in the seventh, with Felker starting the frame with a 1-2 single through the right side of the infield. Stavisky then sent the next pitch from reliever David Kot through a similar spot on the right side. Kot retired the next two batters, but senior leftfielder Matt Nussbaum delivered what proved to be an important RBI, sending a 1-1 single down the line that landed just out of the reach of the charging rightfielder Alex Dvorsky.

Iowa came back with a run in the eighth, with Dvorsky striking out to start the inning but reaching base when the third strike skipped in the dirt and went back to the wall. Mattiace then bunted the runner over and Brian Bucklin sent a 1-0 double to left-center, for a 3-2 game.

The Irish threatened in the eighth, when O’Toole singled, Porzel walked and Felker reached on an infield single to load the bases with one out. But Kot struck out Stavisky to strike out and induced a flyout from Andrew Bushey to end the inning.

Iowa put a runner on base in the ninth, but Heilman struck out two and served up a groundout to end the game.

Notre Dame, which is 5-1 so far on the Jacksonville trip, returns to action on Friday versus Akron at Harmon Stadium.

Jensen, Kot (6) and Humes. Heilman and O’Toole.