Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - In the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, Villanova (3-2) scored first and out-hit Alabama (7-2) but ultimately fell by a score of 5-3 at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Wildcats had nine hits and put the tying run on base in the ninth inning before the Crimson Tide evened the three-game weekend series at one game apiece.

A four-run seventh inning by Alabama staked the Tide to a 5-1 lead and provided enough cushion for the bullpen. In the ninth inning, pinch hitter Wesley Borden (State College, Pa.) doubled home two runs with nobody out to cut the margin to 5-3 but Villanova could not continue the rally any further. Tide reliever Josh Copeland retired three straight batters after Borden's double to lock down the save.

For the second straight day, the Wildcats broke a scoreless tie by plating a single run in the top of the fourth inning. Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) singled and stole second base to start the inning, took third on one of three sacrifice bunts by Villanova in the game, and then scored on a wild pitch. He finished the game 3-for-5 to raise his season average to .381.

Shunk was the lone Wildcat with more than one hit in the game, as Villanova spread out its nine hits among seven different players. In the ninth inning, James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) reached on an error and pinch hitter Justin Bencsko (Pompton Plains, N.J.) bunted for a single ahead of the double by Borden.

Alabama tied the game on Matt Bentley's double in the bottom of the fourth and took its first lead of the series with the four-run seventh. The Crimson Tide sent nine men to the plate during that rally, which included five stolen bases and only three hits. Emeel Salem walked with one out, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch. Kent Matthes had an RBI single and pinch hitter Brandon May singled home two runs.

Villanova starter Josh Eidell (Pottstown, Pa.) had a strong outing in his second start of the season, allowing only five hits and one earned run in 5 1/3 innings of work. He walked two and struck out two to pick up the no-decision. Freshman Kevin Crimmel (Harrisburg, Pa.) escaped a jam in the sixth inning but was charged with two runs in the seventh and took the loss.

Matthes went 3-for-4 for the Tide, who like the Wildcats had no other player with more than one hit. It marked the second straight game that Villanova out-hit Alabama. The Tide got 5.1 innings of five-hit ball from starter Miers Quigley, who struck out a career-high eight batters. Austin Hyatt pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief and earned the victory.

The second game of the doubleheader was set to begin at 4:45 p.m. CST. A full recap and stats from the second game will be available following the contest.