Irish Baseball Opens with Win and Loss

8-4 win over JMU, 14-1 loss to FIU highlight first day in Miami.

February 19, 1999

MIAMI, Fla. - Junior shortstop Brant Ust went 3-for-3 with a homer and senior right-hander Alex Shilliday allowed four hits through seven innings to lead Notre Dame to an 8-4 victory over James Madison in non-conference baseball earlier today at Florida International Stadium. The Irish opened their season while the Dukes fell to 0-2.

Notre Dame catcher Paul O'Toole and right fielder Jeff Perconte hit back-to-back doubles to start the fifth inning and snap a 2-2 tie. Perconte went on the score on a groundout, and Ust hit a solo homer to left field to give the Irish a 5-2 lead. O'Toole highlighted Notre Dame's three-run sixth inning with a two-run double.

Shilliday (1-0) struck out eight and walked one while scattering five hits.

Junior first baseman Jason Matthews homered for JMU. Junior second baseman T Riley went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs scored.

JMU	110	001	010	 4   5   2
NSU	200	033	00x	 8  11   1

Batteries: JMU - DeHart, Ebaugh (6), Cornwell (7) and McKernan. ND - Shilliday, Cooke (8) and O'Toole, Drevline (8).
WP - Shilliday (0-0).
LP - DeHart (0-1).
S - None.
HR: JMU - Matthews, none on in 2nd (1); ND - Ust, none on in 5th (1).