April 21, 2001
Box Score
NOTRE DAME, IN - In a Big East Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 21, at Frank Eck Stadium in Notre Dame, Ind., the Villanova University baseball team was swept by the No. 2 nationally ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, falling 7-1 in game one and losing 15-2 in game two. The Wildcats fell to 18-20-1 overall and 7-12-0 in the Big East with Saturday's losses. Notre Dame improved to 34-5-1 overall on the season and 14-2 in conference action with its 12th and 13th consecutive victories.
Game 1
In game one, Villanova took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo home run by second baseman Matt Longo off of Irish All-American Aaron Heilman. Notre Dame tied the contest in the bottom of the third on a RBI double by second baseman Steve Sollmann.
Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Irish pulled away with four in the inning to take a commanding 5-1 advantage. Wildcat reliever Brian Hearne came on in relief of starter Tom Kandybowitz with the bases loaded and two outs. Hearne walked catcher Paul O'Toole to force in center fielder Steve Stanley with the go-ahead run. Notre Dame third baseman Ben Cooke followed with a three-run double to pad the Irish lead to 5-1.
With two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Notre Dame pulled away for the 7-1 win. Heilman (10-0) got the win on the mound for the Irish, allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking one.
Kandybowitz took the loss for Villanova to fall to 3-3 as he gave up four runs on six hits in four and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking four.
At the plate for the Wildcats in the loss, Longo went one-for-three with a home run and a RBI, while right fielder Mike Houser went one-for-two with a double. For the Irish in the win, Stanley went three-for-four, and Cookie went two-for-two with two doubles and three RBI.
Game 2
Villanova was down early as Notre Dame center fielder Steve Stanley hit the first pitch of the game by Wildcat starter Bob Grzenda over the wall in right field to lead off the bottom of the first. Stanley's first career home run gave the Irish an early 1-0 lead.
Still down 1-0 heading into the top of the fourth inning, Villanova got its lead off man on base as left fielder Dave Pizzini reached on an error by Notre Dame pitcher Danny Tamayo. With one out, Pizzini stole second and advanced to third on an error by Irish catcher Paul O'Toole. Two pitches later, Pizzini scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Notre Dame regained the lead with two runs to take a 3-1 advantage. First baseman Joe Thaman scored the Irish's first run on a throwing error by Villanova catcher Marshall Canosa. Canosa was attempting to throw out Thaman stealing third base, but his throw went into left field when third baseman Nick Piantek was late covering the bag. Following a Stanley triple, second baseman Steve Sollmann singled through the right side to score Stanley and give Notre Dame a 3-1 lead.
One inning later, the Irish exploded with six runs in the sixth to extend their advantage to 9-1. Notre Dame got big hits in the inning by Stanley, who hit a two-run double, and Sollman, who delivered a two-run home run.
Villanova first baseman Rob Cafiero led off the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run to right field to cut the Irish lead to 9-2. The home run by Cafiero was the Wildcats' first hit off of Tamayo in the game.
Notre Dame added two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh and four more in the bottom of the eighth as the Irish posted a 15-2 victory.
Tamayo (6-1) tallied his sixth win of the year, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit in eight innings, striking out six and walking one. Taking the loss for the Wildcats was Grzenda, who falls to 1-6. He allowed six runs on eight hits in five and one-third innings, striking out two and walking three.
At the plate for Villanova, Cafiero went one-for-two with a home run and a RBI. For the Irish, Stanley went three-for-five, with a triple, a home run and three RBI.
Villanova and Notre Dame will play the third and final game of the series on Sunday, April 22, at 12:00 p.m.
