Feb. 14, 2004

Final Stats

NORFOLK, VA. - The Villanova baseball team kicked off the 2004 season on Saturday, Feb. 14, at Marty L. Miller Field in Norfolk, Va., by defeating Norfolk State, 6-3, in game one of a matinee doubleheader. The Wildcats (1-0) broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by second baseman Mark Cardillo, and senior Adrian Schau struck out the final two batters of the game with two on and two out in the bottom of the inning to seal the win.

The `Cats took the early lead, scoring once in the first inning to claim a 1-0 advantage. Centerfielder Kris Molloy walked to lead off the game and stole second base to move into scoring position. Molloy, a newcomer to the Wildcats after transferring from UMass, went to third on a Spartan error, and came around to score on a passed ball.

In the top of the fourth inning, Villanova scored twice more to add to its lead. Senior third baseman Danny Poydenis led the inning off with a double. After moving up to third on a sacrifice by leftfielder Brian Newbold, Poydenis scored one batter later on a sacrifice fly by senior first baseman Adrian Schau. Later in the inning, senior shortstop Brian Trotta lined a two-out single to right-center to score Newbold and give the `Cats a 3-0 lead.

Starter Nick Allen blanked Norfolk State for the first three innings, but the Spartans rallied with one run in each of the next three frames to tie the contest at 3-3. A.J. Corbin tied the game in the sixth with an RBI single. Senior Mike Ciccotelli came on in relief of Allen in the sixth, and shut the door on any further damage by striking out Cameron Jones to end the inning.

The Wildcat offense awoke in the top of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach. With Schau on second base and two outs, second baseman Mark Cardillo doubled to right field to break the tie and give Villanova a 4-3 lead. Following a walk by Molloy, fellow newcomer Craig Mirsky hit a two-run double to center to score Molloy and Cardillo and give the Wildcats a 6-3 lead.

Schau put the game away in the bottom of the seventh. With two on and one out, he went on to strike out the final two batters of the game to give the `Cats the 6-3 victory.

Ciccotelli (1-0) got the win in relief for Villanova, while Schau picked up his first save of the year. Allen started and pitched well for the Wildcats, allowing just two runs on five hits in 5.1 innings, striking out two and walking one.

Taking the loss for the Spartans was James Williams, who falls to 0-2 on the year.

At the plate for the `Cats, Poydenis and Cardillo each had two hits. Mirsky had a hit and two RBI, while Schau, Trotta and Cardillo each knocked in one run apiece. For Norfolk, Corbin went two-for-four with a home run and two RBI.