May 2, 2001
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sam Flamont’s two-run home run broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the eighth while junior righthander Tyler Grinnell came on to save the game for junior lefty Shawn Morrison, as Western Michigan held on to upset top-ranked Notre Dame for the second consecutive season, 7-6, in Wednesday night action at Eck Stadium.
Western Michigan (23-21) jumped out to a 5-0 lead versus junior righthanders Drew Duff and Matt Buchmeier but Notre Dame (41-7-1) answered with four runs in the bottom of the third-highlighted by a bases-clearing double from sophomore rightfielder Brian Stavisky.
Flamont’s 10th home run of the season proved to be the game-winning hit and came on the heels of Mike Scott’s two-out, full-count single down the rightfield line. The lefthanded-hitting Flamont then lifted a 1-0 offering from Irish righthanded closer Matt Laird (3-1) over the rightfield fence for the 7-5 lead.
Unlike WMU’s 11-7 win over ND last season in Kalamazoo-in which seven Irish errors led to three unearned runs-this time it was the Broncos who struggled in the field, making five errors while yielding a pair of unearned scores for the hosts.
Notre Dame’s nine-hit attack included just one player with multiple hits, as senior shortstop Alec Porzel batted 3-for-5 with one RBI and a run scored.
Morrison (4-3) relieved fellow lefthander Pat Misch to open the fourth inning and held the Irish to a pair of unearned runs on three hits over four and one-third innings, with three strikeouts.
Flamont’s clutch hit again showed the value of home runs in college baseball, as the Irish have totaled just 25 home runs in 49 games while losing five times by one run.
NOTES: ND failed to become the first team in the program’s history to rise 36 games over .500 … WMU became the first team to beat ND in 2000 and 2001 (the Irish had won their first 15 games this season vs. teams that beat ND in 2000) … Porzel’s three hits give him 259 for his career, moving past Dan Peltier (257, `87-’89) into 5th on the ND career hits list … Porzel also became the 4th ND player ever to reach 200 career RBI and moved into a tie with former teammate Jeff Felker (’00) for 3rd on the ND career games started list, with 220 … junior CF Steve Stanley collected his 239th career hit, good for a share of 9th on the ND all-time list (Scott Sollmann also had 239, from ’94-`96).
WESTERN MICHIGAN (23-21) 0-3-2 0-0-0 0-2-0 – 7 12 5
#1 NOTRE DAME (41-7-1) 0-0-4 0-0-0 1-1-0 – 6 9 1
Pat Misch, Shawn Morrison (4, W, 6-3), Josh Mandarino (8), Tyler Grinnell (9) and Jason Richards.
Drew Duff, Matt Buchmeier (3), Matt Laird (8, L, 3-1) and Paul O’Toole.
Home Run: Sam Flamont, WMU (1 on in 8th, 10th of season).
Doubles: Alec Porzel (ND), Brian Stavisky (ND), Ken Meyer (ND), Tim Frankhouse (WMU).