Irish Fall Short in Final Inning to End Exceptional Season
UHND.com - Andrew Amato
May 30, 2001

After Peter Ogilvie's complete game masterpiece forced a decisive final game, the Notre Dame baseball team lost to Florida International after failing to complete a vigorous ninth inning rally to move on to face the University of Southern California in the Super Regionals.

The Irish defeated FIU (42-19) in the first game of the day 5-2, to force a deciding 7th game of the South Bend Regional.

Ogilvie (5-1) scattered nine hits, struck out five batters, and only walked two a wonderfully pitched game.

The Irish offense was sparked in the 3rd inning when 2nd baseman Steve Sollman crushed a triple to deep center, driving home Ben Cooke and Steve Stanley. Sollman then scored when Golden Panthers shortstop Mickey Torello threw the relay into the Notre Dame dugout on the third base side. Irish catcher Paul O'Toole completed the scoring in the eighth with a solo blast over the right field fence to give Notre Dame its fifth run.

FIU pitcher Michael Baluja (10-4) pitched a complete game loss for the Golden Panthers. He allowed eight hits, 3 earned runs, struck out four batters, and walked three over 8 innings.

Notre Dame's record setting season of 49 wins came to end in the night cap by a score of 5-4, but not without a whole lot of guts and effort.

The Irish ended the season 49-13-1. This was the first season Notre Dame has ever won more than 48 games.

In the nightcap, the Irish jumped out to a 2-0 early advantage, but would soon relinquish the lead, and never regain it.

William Collazo pitched the final 6 innings holding the Irish to 2 runs and 6 hits to lead the Golden Panthers of FIU to the victory. Collazo struck out
Andrew Bushey to end the game, stranding a runner at third.

FIU took the lead in the third by scoring 4 runs off of Notre Dame starter J.P. Gagne.

In the 6th inning, Hector Nunez added the all important insurance run with a solo shot into the gusting South Bend wind.

Despite stranding 12 of 17 baserunners, the Irish rallied in the 9th inning, after adding a 3rd run in the 8th, but still left the bases loaded. DH Kris Billmaier ripped a 2 out double on a 2-2 count. Then Paul O'Toole laced a triple to the warning track on another 2-2 count to cut the deficit to one run. But in the end, Collazo was too dominant for Andrew Bushey who struck out to end the game.

Brian Stavisky cracked his fourth HR of the regional in the 1st inning scoring Steve Stanley to give the Irish a 2-0 lead.

William Collazo was named the regional MVP. He also pitched a complete game victory on Friday for the Golden Panthers over UC Santa Barbara.

The Golden Panthers took the lead in the third on RBI singles from Barry Paulk, Daniel Bustamonte, and Nunez. Lefthander Mike Naumann relieved sophomore J.P. Gagne. Naumann tossed four solid innings that included just three hits and one walk.

Five Irish players made the 11-player All-Regional team. Peter Ogilvie, Steve Stanley (14-for-23, 8 R, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 BB), Brian Stavisky (10-for-21, 11 RBI, 8 R, 4 HR, 3 2B, 4 BB), Andrew Bushey (6-for-23, 2 RBI, 2 R), and Alec Porzel (10-for-25, 6 RBI, 5 R, HR, 2 2B).

Congratulations to the Irish on such a magnificent season!

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