May 27, 2001
Game 4 Notes
#1 Notre Dame vs. #3 Florida International
May 27, 2001
Notre Dame Notes:
Before losing today, Notre Dame was 9-0-1 in its last 10 extra-inning games (4-0-1 this season).
Notre Dame suffered its first loss in its green uniforms this season. The Irish were 4-0 in the green jerseys before today.
This marks the third consecutive year Notre Dame has lost in the winner’s bracket game of regional play. The Irish lost in 1999 to Cal State Fullerton (6-3) and to Mississippi State (8-1) in 2000. Notre Dame is 1-1 in the elimination games following those losses.
Notre Dame made its first three errors of the postseason today. The first of those errors led to two unearned runs in the fourth inning. Coming into the game, errors had led to just 37 runs all season.
Notre Dame has outscored its opponents 64-23 in the fourth inning this season.
Freshman Steve Sollmann and sophomore Kris Billmaier, who were both questionable at best coming in to the weekend due to injury, both had two hits on the day. Billmaier also drove in two runs with a double in the third.
The top five batters for the Irish (Stanley, Sollman, Porzel, Stavisky, Billmaier) combined for all seven Notre Dame hits in the first 6.1 innings, while the bottom four spots in the lineup were 0-for-11, until Joe Thaman’s single in the seventh inning. For the game, the top five spots were 11-for-22 with five runs scored and six RBI. Billmaier also had two walks.
Irish CF Steve Stanley was 0-for-10 against Florida International coming into the game, but went 2-for-5 with one run scored today. Stanley’s two hits also gave him sole possesion of sixth place on the Notre Dame all-time hit list with 259. Next up: 5. Mike Amrhein at 269.
Stanley also improved his career NCAA Tournament numbers to 16 for 40 (.400) with 13 runs scored
With his two hits today, senior SS Alec Porzel has now moved into a tie with J.J. Brock for third place on the Notre Dame hit list with 272. Next up is Eric Danapilis at 295. Porzel also had two RBI and is moving in on Danapilis for the Irish RBI record of 221.
Alec Porzel played in his 236th game today moving into a tie for second on the all-time games played list. Next up: 1. J.J. Brock at 238.
Florida International Notes:
Florida International is now 4-0 against the Irish and remains one of only five all-time opponents Notre Dame has not beaten.
The victory marks the first time Florida International has won its first two games of NCAA regional play.
FIU is 2-2 in extra inning games this season.
FIU is now 7-5 in one-run games on 2001.
The Golden Panthers set a season high for doubles in a game with six.