2002 Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team

American college baseball season

2002 Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball

Big East Conference champions
Big East Conference Tournament champions
South Bend Regional champions
Tallahassee Super Regional champions

College World Series, 4th

Conference| Big East Conference
Ranking
Coaches| No. 7
CB| No. 6
Record| 50–18 (18–8 Big East)
Head coach|

* Paul Mainieri (8th season)

Assistant coach| Wally Widelski (2nd season)
Hitting coach| Dusty Lepper (3rd season)
Pitching coach| Brian O'Connor (8th season)
Captains|

* Andrew Bushey (Senior year)
* Steve Stanley (Senior year)

Home stadium| Frank Eck Stadium

Seasons

<- 2001

2003 ->

2002 Big East Conference baseball standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  | PCT |  |  | W |  | L |  | T |  | PCT
No. 6 Notre Dame ‍†‍‡‍y | 18 | - | 8 | - | 0 |  | .692 |  |  | 50 | - | 18 | - | 0 |  | .735
Virginia Tech ‍‍‍ | 18 | - | 8 | - | 0 |  | .692 |  |  | 33 | - | 26 | - | 0 |  | .559
Boston College ‍‍‍ | 15 | - | 11 | - | 0 |  | .577 |  |  | 30 | - | 25 | - | 0 |  | .545
Rutgers ‍‍‍ | 15 | - | 11 | - | 0 |  | .577 |  |  | 25 | - | 22 | - | 0 |  | .532
Pittsburgh ‍‍‍ | 14 | - | 11 | - | 0 |  | .560 |  |  | 36 | - | 16 | - | 1 |  | .689
St. John's ‍‍‍ | 14 | - | 12 | - | 0 |  | .538 |  |  | 29 | - | 23 | - | 0 |  | .558
Connecticut ‍‍‍ | 13 | - | 12 | - | 0 |  | .520 |  |  | 28 | - | 22 | - | 0 |  | .560
Villanova ‍‍‍ | 12 | - | 13 | - | 0 |  | .480 |  |  | 30 | - | 23 | - | 0 |  | .566
Seton Hall ‍‍‍ | 11 | - | 15 | - | 0 |  | .423 |  |  | 25 | - | 28 | - | 0 |  | .472
West Virginia ‍‍‍ | 9 | - | 16 | - | 0 |  | .360 |  |  | 24 | - | 26 | - | 0 |  | .480
Georgetown ‍‍‍ | 2 | - | 24 | - | 0 |  | .077 |  |  | 9 | - | 47 | - | 0 |  | .161
† - Conference champion
‡ - Tournament champion
y - Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 30, 2002[1][2]
Rankings from Collegiate Baseball

The 2002 Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2002 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Fighting Irish played their home games at Frank Eck Stadium. The team was coached by Paul Mainieri in his 8th year as head coach at Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish won the South Bend Regional and the Tallahassee Super Regional to advance to the College World Series, where they were defeated by the Stanford Cardinal.

## Roster[edit]

2002 Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball team

Players | Coaches
| # | Pos. | Name | B/T | Height | Weight | Year | Home town

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2  | OF | Steve Stanley (C) | L/L  | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 155 lb (70 kg) | Sr | Upper Arlington, Ohio
3  | INF | Steve Sollmann | R/R  | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | So | Cincinnati, Ohio
5  | RHP | Drew Duff | R/R  | 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Sr | Sevierville, Tennessee
6  | INF | Geoff Milsom | L/R  | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Fr | New York, New York
7  | INF | Zach Sisko | L/R  | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | So | Belleville, Illinois
8  | OF | Kris Billmaier | R/R  | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jr | Woodinville, Washington
9  | OF | Matt Bok | S/R  | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Sr | Akron, Ohio
10  | RHP | Chris Niesel | R/R  | 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Fr | Plantation, Florida
11  |  | Matt Macri | R/R  | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Fr | Clive, Iowa
12  | INF | Andrew Bushy (C) | L/R  | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Sr | Boardman, Ohio
13  | C | Jay Molina | R/R  | 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Fr | Moline, Illinois
14  |  | Matt Edwards | R/R  | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Fr | Mechanicsville, Virginia
15  | INF | Javier Sanchez | R/R  | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | So | Miami, Florida
17  | INF | Ken Meyer | R/R  | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Sr | Fort Myers, Florida
18  |  | Brent Weiss | R/R  | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Fr | Cockeysville, Maryland
19  | OF | Brian Stavisky | L/R  | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Jr | Port Allegany, Pennsylvania
20  | RHP | Peter Ogilvie | R/R  | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | Jr | Buffalo Grove, Illinois
21  |  | Joe Thaman | L/L  | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | So | St. Louis, Missouri
22  | RHP | Grant Johnson | R/R  | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Fr | Burr Ridge, Illinois
23  | RHP | Martin Vergara | R/R  | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Fr | Paterson, New Jersey
25  | INF | Mike Holba | R/R  | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Jr | Lansing, Illinois
27  | C | Paul O'Toole | L/R  | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Sr | Lakewood, Ohio
29  | LHP | Cody Wilkins | R/L  | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | So | Hudson, North Carolina
30  | RHP | Mike Morgalis | R/R  | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | So | Cincinnati, Ohio
32  | RHP | Ryan Kalita | R/R  | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Jr | Oak Park, Illinois
33  | LHP | Scott Bickford | R/L  | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | Fr | Owings, Maryland
35  |  | Matt Strickroth | R/R  | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 230 lb (104 kg) | Sr | Mission Viejo, California
37  | RHP | Matt Laird | R/R  | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jr | Bellaire, Texas
38  | RHP | Tyler Jones | R/R  | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Fr | Arlington, Texas
39  | RHP | Matt Buchmeier | R/R  | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Sr | Greenwood, Indiana
40  | OF | George Howard | R/R  | 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) | 145 lb (66 kg) | Fr | Pine Bluff, Arkansas
44  | C | Mike Milligan | R/R  | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 240 lb (109 kg) | Fr | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
45  | RHP | Brandon Viloria | R/R  | 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Jr | Wailuku, Hawaii
46  | RHP | J. P. Gagne | R/R  | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jr | Bloomington, Minnesota
49  | RHP | John Axford | R/R  | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Fr | Port Dover, Ontario

Head coach

1 Paul Mainieri

Assistant coach(es)

28 Wally Widelski

Hitting coach(es)

4 Dusty Lepper

Pitching coach(es)

26 Brian O'Connor

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Current redshirt

* * *

Roster
Last update: October 2, 2021

## Schedule[edit]

2002 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Baseball Game Log

Regular season

February (1–2)

| #  | Date  | Opponent  | Rank  | Site/stadium  | Score  | Overall record  | Big East record

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1 | February 22 | vs. Missouri | No. 19 | Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, Louisiana | W 7–6 | 1–0 | –
2 | February 23 | at New Orleans | No. 19 | Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, Louisiana | L 7–8 | 1–1 | –
3 | February 24 | vs. Southern Illinois | No. 19 | Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, Louisiana | L 2–6 | 1–2 | –

March (11–8)

| #  | Date  | Opponent  | Rank  | Site/stadium  | Score  | Overall record  | Big East record

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4 | March 1 | vs. Duquesne | No. 24 | Homestead Sports Complex • Homestead, Florida | W 6–0 | 2–2 | –
5 | March 2 | vs. Fairfield | No. 24 | Homestead Sports Complex • Homestead, Florida | W 6–4 | 3–2 | –
6 | March 2 | vs. FIU | No. 24 | Homestead Sports Complex • Homestead, Florida | L 4–13 | 3–3 | –
7 | March 3 | vs. Sacred Heart | No. 24 | Homestead Sports Complex • Homestead, Florida | W 4–1 | 4–3 | –
8 | March 8 | vs. TCU | No. 24 | Dell Diamond • Round Rock, Texas | L 3–7 | 4–4 | –
9 | March 9 | vs. USC | No. 24 | Dell Diamond • Round Rock, Texas | W 15–8 | 5–4 | –
10 | March 10 | vs. Texas–Pan American | No. 24 | Dell Diamond • Round Rock, Texas | L 5–6 | 5–5 | –
11 | March 11 | vs. Creighton |  | Dell Diamond • Round Rock, Texas | L 6–8 | 5–6 | –
12 | March 13 | vs. Creighton |  | Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium • San Antonio, Texas | W 6–2 | 6–6 | –
13 | March 14 | vs. Southern Illinois |  | Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium • San Antonio, Texas | W 5–3 | 7–6 | –
14 | March 15 | vs. Arkansas–Little Rock |  | Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium • San Antonio, Texas | W 7–5 | 8–6 | –
15 | March 16 | vs. Southern Illinois |  | Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium • San Antonio, Texas | W 3–2 | 9–6 | –
16 | March 23 | at Connecticut |  | J. O. Christian Field • Storrs, Connecticut | L 3–4 | 9–7 | 0–1
17 | March 23 | at Connecticut |  | J. O. Christian Field • Storrs, Connecticut | L 8–9 | 9–8 | 0–2
18 | March 24 | at Connecticut |  | J. O. Christian Field • Storrs, Connecticut | L 6–13 | 9–9 | 0–3
19 | March 28 | at West Virginia |  | Hawley Field • Morgantown, West Virginia | L 2–4 | 9–10 | 0–4
20 | March 28 | at West Virginia |  | Hawley Field • Morgantown, West Virginia | W 10–6 | 10–10 | 1–4
21 | March 30 | at Georgetown |  | Shirley Povich Field • Bethesda, Maryland | W 10–6 | 11–10 | 2–4
22 | March 30 | at Georgetown |  | Shirley Povich Field • Bethesda, Maryland | W 12–3 | 12–10 | 3–4

April (19–2)

| #  | Date  | Opponent  | Rank  | Site/stadium  | Score  | Overall record  | Big East record

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23 | April 1 | BYU |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 1–0 | W 13–10 | 3–4
24 | April 3 | Valparaiso |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 16–0 | 14–10 | 3–4
25 | April 3 | Valparasio |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 12–1 | 15–10 | 3–4
26 | April 6 | St. John's |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 4–1 | 16–10 | 4–4
27 | April 6 | St. John's |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | L 3–4 | 16–11 | 4–5
28 | April 7 | St. John's |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 5–2 | 17–11 | 5–5
29 | April 9 | Western Michigan |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 5–4 | 18–11 | 5–5
30 | April 11 | Pittsburgh |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | L 5–7 | 18–12 | 5–6
31 | April 11 | Pittsburgh |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 12–2 | 19–12 | 6–6
32 | April 12 | Virginia Tech |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 2–1 | 20–12 | 7–6
33 | April 12 | Virginia Tech |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 4–2 | 21–12 | 8–6
34 | April 15 | Central Michigan |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 10–9 | 22–12 | 7–6
35 | April 16 | Ball State |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 10–1 | 23–12 | 7–6
36 | April 17 | Toledo |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 15–4 | 24–12 | 8–6
37 | April 20 | at Seton Hall |  | Owen T. Carroll Field • South Orange, New Jersey | W 9–4 | 25–12 | 9–6
38 | April 21 | at Seton Hall |  | Owen T. Carroll Field • South Orange, New Jersey | W 4–2 | 26–12 | 10–6
39 | April 21 | at Seton Hall |  | Owen T. Carroll Field • South Orange, New Jersey | W 6–1 | 27–12 | 11–6
40 | April 23 | Chicago State |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 9–8 | 28–12 | 11–6
41 | April 24 | Bowling Green |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 3–2 | 29–12 | 11–6
42 | April 26 | No. 30 Arizona State |  | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 11–5 | 30–12 | 11–6
43 | April 30 | vs. Michigan | No. 19 | Fifth Third Ballpark • Grand Rapids, Michigan | W 7–4 | 31–12 | 11–6

May (10–2)

| #  | Date  | Opponent  | Rank  | Site/stadium  | Score  | Overall record  | Big East record

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44 | May 1 | Oakland | No. 19 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 11–5 | 32–12 | 11–6
45 | May 4 | Rutgers | No. 19 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 6–5 | 33–12 | 12–6
46 | May 4 | Rutgers | No. 19 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 7–2 | 34–12 | 13–6
47 | May 5 | Rutgers | No. 19 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | L 0–11 | 34–13 | 13–7
48 | May 11 | at Villanova | No. 19 | Richie Ashburn Field • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | L 7–8 | 34–14 | 13–8
49 | May 12 | at Villanova | No. 19 | Richie Ashburn Field • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | W 8–1 | 35–14 | 14–8
50 | May 12 | at Villanova | No. 19 | Richie Ashburn Field • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | W 9–5 | 36–14 | 15–8
51 | May 15 | Rochester | No. 23 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 10–3 | 37–14 | 15–8
52 | May 15 | Detroit | No. 23 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 23–1 | 38–14 | 15–8
53 | May 17 | Boston College | No. 23 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 8–2 | 39–14 | 16–8
54 | May 18 | Boston College | No. 23 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 10–6 | 40–14 | 17–8
55 | May 18 | Boston College | No. 23 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 5–2 | 41–14 | 18–8

Postseason

Big East Tournament (3–1)

| #  | Date  | Opponent  | Seed/Rank  | Site/stadium  | Score  | Overall record  | BIGET record

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56 | May 23 | vs. (4) Rutgers | (1) No. 18 | Commerce Bank Ballpark • Bridgewater, New Jersey | W 8–3 | 42–14 | 1–0
57 | May 24 | vs. (2) Virginia Tech | (1) No. 18 | Commerce Bank Ballpark • Bridgewater, New Jersey | W 8–4 | 43–14 | 2–0
58 | May 25 | vs. (4) Rutgers | (1) No. 18 | Commerce Bank Ballpark • Bridgewater, New Jersey | L 3–4 | 43–15 | 2–1
59 | May 23 | vs. (4) Rutgers | (1) No. 18 | Commerce Bank Ballpark • Bridgewater, New Jersey | W 3–2 | 44–15 | 3–1

NCAA South Bend Regional (3–0)

| #  | Date  | Opponent  | Seed/Rank  | Site/stadium  | Score  | Overall record  | NCAAT record

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60 | May 31 | (3) No. 30 Ohio State | (2) No. 17 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 8–6 | 45–15 | 1–0
61 | June 1 | (1) No. 20 South Alabama | (2) No. 17 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 25–1 | 46–15 | 2–0
62 | June 2 | (3) No. 30 Ohio State | (2) No. 17 | Frank Eck Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana | W 9–6 | 47–15 | 3–0

NCAA Tallahassee Super Regional (2–1)

| #  | Date  | Opponent  | Seed/Rank  | Site/stadium  | Score  | Overall record  | NCAAT record

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63 | June 7 | at (1) No. 1 Florida State | No. 11 | Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida | W 10–4 | 48–15 | 4–0
64 | June 9 | at (1) No. 1 Florida State | No. 11 | Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida | L 5–12 | 48–16 | 4–1
65 | June 10 | at (1) No. 1 Florida State | No. 11 | Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida | W 3–1 | 49–16 | 5–1

College World Series (1–2)

| #  | Date  | Opponent  | Seed/Rank  | Site/stadium  | Score  | Overall record  | Big East record

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66 | June 15 | vs. (8) No. 5 Stanford | No. 8 | Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, Nebraska | L 3–4 | 49–17 | 18–8
67 | June 17 | vs. (4) No. 1 Rice | No. 8 | Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, Nebraska | W 5–3 | 50–17 | 18–8
68 | June 18 | vs. (8) No. 5 Stanford | No. 8 | Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium • Omaha, Nebraska | L 3–5 | 50–18 | 18–8

## Awards and honors[edit]

Matt Bok

* Third Team All-Big East Conference

Andrew Bushey

* Third Team All-Big East Conference

Grant Johnson

* First Freshman All-American Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
* Second Freshman Team All-American Baseball America

Paul O'Toole

* Second Team All-Big East Conference

Steve Sollmann

* Second Team All-Big East Conference

Steve Stanley

* First Team All-American American Baseball Coaches Association[3]
* First Team All-American Baseball America
* First Team All-American National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
* First Team All-American Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
* First Team All-American USA Today
* Big East Conference Player of the Year
* Big East Conference Tournament MVP
* First Team All-Big East Conference
* College World Series All-Tournament Team[4]

Brian Stavisky

* Second Team All-Big East Conference

## References[edit]

1. ^ 2012 Big East Baseball Media Guide. Big East Conference. p. 61\. Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
2. ^ "College Baseball Conference Standings – 2002". boydsworld.com. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
3. ^ "NCAA Baseball Award Winners" (PDF). www.ncaa.org. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
4. ^ "College World Series record Book" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved October 5, 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball

Venues|

* Cartier Field (1900–1976)
* Jake Kline Field (1977–1987)
* Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium (1988–1993)
* Frank Eck Stadium (1994–present)

Seasons|

* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
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College World Series appearances in italics
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[PCT]: Winning percentage
*[No.]: Number