March 2, 2001

Box Score

ST PETERSBURG, FL - Two Pre-Season All-Americans took the mound Friday afternoon in the Devil Rays Collegiate Invitational. After nine innings of play, the Notre Dame University's Aaron Heilman, a first team selection, proved a 3-0 victor over Florida Atlantic University's Petersen Benjamin, a third-team selectee.

Notre Dame, ranked 10th by Collegiate Baseball and 11th by Baseball America is the third ranked team FAU has faced this season and it was the 15th game played against 2000 NCAA Participants.

The game, which lasted just over two hours, saw the first runs scored in the bottom of the fourth. Behind four of the team's 10 hits. The Irish scored again in the seventh.

Benjamin fell to 2-2 after pitching his second complete game of the season. The senior struck out four, walked none. Two of the runs allowed were earned. Heilman retired nine on strikeouts, walked one and recorded the first shutout in 31 games.

Offensively, LJ Biernbaum had three of the team's five hits with a 3-for-4 plate performance with one double.