Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Despite holding the lead through the early and middle innings, Villanova (0-2) surrendered five runs in the bottom of the sixth and eight in the bottom of the eighth inning of a 16-6 loss to No. 18 Michigan (2-0) on Saturday afternoon in the second game of a three-game series at Tradition Field.

Three different players hit home runs for the Wildcats, who plated four runs in the third inning to take their first lead of the weekend, 4-2. Villanova added runs in the fifth and sixth to go up 6-2 in support of senior starter Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), but the big eighth inning by the nationally-ranked Wolverines put the game well out of reach.

Senior Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and junior Kyle Carver (Aldan, Pa.) each hit two-out, two-run home runs in the third inning to lift the Wildcats into the lead. Senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) led off the top of the fifth with a solo shot to center field and junior Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) singled home a run in the sixth.

Michigan staked itself to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a run-scoring groundout and RBI triple. Ellis settled down from there, however, allowing just one hit and no runs over his final four innings of work. He walked five and struck out two in his five innings of work and allowed just three hits.

With Ellis out of the game after five innings, the Wolverines took advantage of four walks, a throwing error and a passed ball to score five times with just two hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Adam Abraham delivered a two-run single and Chris Berset added an RBI single in the frame to give Michigan a 7-6 lead. Ryan LaMarre doubled home a run in the seventh to extend the margin to 8-6 before the Wolverines sent 13 men to the plate in the eight-run eighth inning.

Carver finished 2-for-4 and had the only multi-hit day for Villanova, which saw all nine in its starting lineup reach base safely at least once. The Wildcats drew six walks and reached base one other time on a hit batsman.

Michael Powers earned the win in relief for Michigan, working the fifth through eighth innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. Starting pitcher Chris Fetter allowed five hits and four earned runs in the first four innings.

Abraham finished 3-for-5 at the plate for the Wolverines, while he and LaMarre each drove in four runs apiece.

Sophomore Kevin Crimmel (Harrisburg, Pa.) entered the game in the sixth inning and was charged with the loss for Villanova. He worked 1 2/3 innings overall and allowed two hits, two earned runs and three walks with two strikeouts.

The final game of the weekend is on Sunday at Noon at the New York Mets spring training facility.