Feb. 18, 2007

Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. - Sophomore Wesley Borden (State College, Pa.) singled home the two tying runs during a four-run eighth inning and sophomore Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) drove in the go-ahead run in a 9-7 victory for Villanova (2-0) over Norfolk State (3-4) on Saturday afternoon at Marty Miller Field. The Wildcats trailed 7-3 going to the seventh inning before rallying for their second straight win.

After scoring six unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings, Villanova turned the game over to its bullpen. Junior Gus Guida (Martinsville, N.J.) worked two scoreless innings for his first save of the year, allowing just one hit while striking out two. Senior Nate Hall (Longmont, Colo.) escaped a one out jam with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and earned the win.

The top of the eighth inning marked the second time in as many days that the Wildcats staged a four-run rally after loading the bases with one out. A single, walk and bunt base hit set up the inning for Villanova, who trailed 7-5 going to the eighth. Borden's single tied the game and advanced junior James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) to third. Cotter followed with a single to put the Wildcats in front and sophomore Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) added a run-scoring single to cap the scoring.

Although Villanova scored first with two unearned runs in the top of the third inning, the Spartans answered with five of their own in the bottom of the frame and eventually build a 7-3 lead by the end of the sixth. Norfolk State reached Wildcat sophomore Josh Eidell (Pottstown, Pa.) for seven runs (six earned) in four-plus innings.

The Spartans received seven innings of four-hit ball from starter Leon Schabacker, but three of those hits came after there were two out and nobody on in the seventh. Junior Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) singled to prolong the inning and McFolling followed with a two-run home run to make the score 7-5. Junior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) doubled but Schabacker eventually escaped further damage.

McFolling went 2-for-4 with three RBI in the game to lead five players that had two hits each. Arcadia, Dolbier and junior Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) each went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Shunk also had two hits.

Frankie Caldeyro took the loss for Norfolk State, allowing three hits and three earned runs in one-third of an inning. Moriba George had three hits, two runs scored and two RBI, while Foran was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.

The Wildcats look for a sweep of their season-opening series on Sunday at 1 p.m. Junior Bill Hoffman (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) will pitch against Luke Foss of the Spartans.