April 13, 2008
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Sophomore Eric Maust (Alpharetta, Ga.) tossed 7.0 shutout innings and the Irish rapped out 20 hits en route to a 13-0 shutout victory over Villanova Sunday to secure their third BIG EAST series sweep of the season. Notre Dame improves to 21-9-1 overall and 10-2 in the conference, while the Wildcats drop to 15-18 and 4-8.
Maust (3-1) struggled with his command at times, walking a season-high tying four, but limited Villanova to just three hits (all of which were singles). He allowed just one Wildcat into scoring position the entire afternoon. Maust lowered his season earned-run average to 2.23.
Freshman Todd Miller (Franklin, Tenn.) and senior Justin Gingerich (Goshen, Ind.) each worked a scoreless inning of relief as Notre Dame registered its fourth shutout of the season.
The Irish jumped on Villanova starter Kyle Carver (1-1) from the first pitch. Notre Dame plated two in the first inning and four more in the second to run Carter. He was roughed up for six runs, four earned, on five hits.
Seven different Irish starters recorded at least two hits. Sophomore A.J. Pollock (Hebron, Conn.) went 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Senior Brett Lilley (North Canton, Ohio), sophomore David Mills (Battlecreek, Mich.), junior Evan Sharpley (Marshall, Mich.), senior Ross Brezovsky (Naples, Fla.), sophomore Billy Boockford (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) and freshman Greg Sherry (Mendham, N.J.) all had two hits apiece. Lilley scored four runs. Sharpley and Sherry each drove in two.
Junior Casey Martin (Chesterton, Ind.) was the eighth different Notre Dame player to pick up a pair of hits. He went 2-for-2 in his two at-bats after replacing Sharpley.
The Irish have now swept Georgetown, Rutgers and Villanova already this season. Notre Dame improved to a perfect 6-0 on the road and has outscored its BIG EAST foes 100-29 in 12 games.
Notre Dame returns to action with a pair of non-conference games this week against Toledo and Northern Illinois. The Irish and Rockets will meet at Frank Eck Stadium on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. Notre Dame then travels to U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, for a 7:11 start against the Huskies. Each game can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1490 AM and UND.com.
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