Historic winning streak snapped at 17 games as Irish fall to Eagles
BY BRYAN KRONK
Senior Staff Writer
One team took advantage of the strong wind blowing out to left field.
Unfortunately, that team was not the Irish.
Thanks in no small part to a dominating pitching performance by Eastern Michigan starter Matt Onderlinde, the Eagles held off a furious late rally by the Irish, snapping Notre Dame's historic winning streak at 17 with a 5-3 win at Eck Stadium Tuesday.
"Tip your hat to [Onderlinde], he kept us off-balance all night," Irish coach Paul Mainieri said. "It's frustrating, it almost looks like from the stands that we're not even trying. But believe me, these kids were trying, it just didn't happen today."
The Eagles surged to an early 3-0 lead thanks to two wind-aided home runs, a two-run shot in the first and a solo home run in the second, both off Irish starter Tyler Jones.
The lead increased to 4-0 in the fourth before the Irish could get on the board. After Steve Sollmann led off the inning with a triple, Brennan Grogan knocked him in with a single to left to bring the Irish back within three runs at 4-1.
However, any momentum the Irish were carrying was thwarted when Matt Edwards flied out to left and Kris Billmaier grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Irish then inserted Peter Ogilvie in as reliever. Ogilvie, who hadn't seen action since March 12, allowed one run to score in the fifth on a fielder's choice play in which the relay throw from Sollmann to catcher Javi Sanchez brought Sanchez to the wrong side of the plate to make the tag in time, scoring the fifth and final run for the Eagles.
"[Ogilvie]'s been better than what he threw tonight, but he wasn't that bad tonight," Mainieri said. "He hasn't pitched a game in probably a month, so it was just good to see him back out there."
Ogilvie was replaced by Ryan Doherty in the top of the seventh.
Meanwhile, the Irish attempted to mount another rally in the bottom of the sixth. After Sollmann singled and Grogan reached on an error, two consecutive walks by Onderlinde drove in Sollmann and loaded the bases for Cody Rizzo, who popped a 2-0 pitch to the second baseman to end a prime scoring opportunity and leave the score at 5-2 in favor of the Eagles.
"The longer the game goes, the more the players start to press, and everybody wants to get that big hit," Mainieri said. "They were out there trying, it just wasn't meant to be. That happens in baseball sometimes."
In his two innings of relief, Doherty dominated all six Eastern Michigan batters he faced, striking out five Eagles in a row with his powerful fastball.
"He was a bulldog tonight," Mainieri said. "He really went after their hitters. I was really proud of the way he threw. We're gonna need him [down the stretch]. … I thought tonight he threw the ball exceptionally well."
Rallies in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings failed to materialize, as the Irish were able to get a runner on base in each inning but failing to produce any runs.
After reliever Matt Laird retired the Eagles in order in the top of the ninth, it was up to the Irish offense to push some runs across the plate in order to continue the winning streak.
After a leadoff walk to Billmaier ended Onderlinde's night, Rizzo struck out before two consecutive singles by Sanchez and Matt Macri drove Billmaier home to bring the Irish within two at 5-3. Pinch hitter Steve Andres drew a one-out walk to load the bases and set up a tense ending.
Joe Thaman watched the third strike sail by for the second out, bringing Sollmann — arguably Notre Dame's best clutch hitter — to the plate with the game on the line.
However, Sollmann knocked the offering slowly up the middle, and the Eastern Michigan pitcher picked up the ball and threw it to first to snap the Irish winning streak.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, April 16, 2003
