Villanova University

Feb. 22, 2008

Box Score

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - On the first-ever national start date for games in college baseball, Villanova (0-1) was defeated 13-4 by No. 8 Michigan (1-0) on Friday evening at Tradition Field in the opener of a three-game series to start the season at the New York Mets spring training site. The Wildcats drew 10 walks in the game with a patient offensive approach but added just two hits to support the cause.

Villanova had an early answer for the Wolverines first real charge of the game. After allowing four runs in the bottom of the third inning, the Wildcats plated three of their own in the top of the fourth to pull within 6-4. However, Michigan scored five unanswered runs over their next three at-bats to put the game out of reach.

The three-run fourth inning for Villanova included the team's only two hits of the game. Senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) drove in the first run with an infield hit and junior Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) hit a two-out, two-run home run that also scored Shunk. The inning materialized after junior Joe Rosati (Havertown, Pa.) led off with a walk and took third on a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt.

The rally by the Wildcats proved to be only a stopgap measure though, as the middle innings wound up deciding the contest. The Wolverines scored nine of their runs between the third and sixth innings, with six of those runs scoring with two outs. Kevin Cislo scored one run with a third-inning single and plated two more with a single in the fourth. He finished the day with three runs scored and three driven in.

Despite facing a highly-ranked and highly-touted opponent that played in an NCAA Super Regional last year, Villanova was able to stick to its normal approach at the plate. Senior Tim Poydenis (Vero Beach, Fla.) walked in all four of his plate appearances and the Wildcats drew six walks in four innings against Michigan starting pitcher Mike Wilson. Sophomore Justin Bencsko (Pompton Plains, N.J.) and freshman Dain Hall (Barrington, Ill.) each walked twice.

Junior Josh Eidell (Norristown, Pa.) started and took the loss for Villanova. Eidell yielded six earned runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out three. He surrendered Nate Recknagel's two-run home run with one out in the first inning but then recovered to get the final two outs with runners on base before going on to retire the side in order in the bottom of the second.

Matt Gerbe was the winner in relief for the Wolverines, as he and Tyler Burgoon combined to pitch five hitless innings of relief with four walks and five strikeouts.

The second game of the weekend series will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m. Senior right-handed pitcher Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) is expected to draw the start for the Wildcats.