Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Down 5-1 in the sixth inning and seemingly headed for a lackluster loss in the second game of Saturday's double header, Villanova (3-3) scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning and tied the game 5-5. However, host Alabama (8-2) came back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and withstood all it could take from the Wildcats in an 11-6 victory at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

As it did in every game of the series, Villanova scored first, getting a single run in the top of the first inning after Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) singled and put Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) in position to score from third on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. Shunk was 7-for-9 with a walk on the day and raised his average to .480 (12-for-25) this season.

The Wildcats did not stay ahead for long, as the Crimson Tide scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning and eventually went ahead 5-1 by the end of the fourth inning. With Alabama on the verge of breaking the game open even further, freshman Brian Streilein (Staten Island, N.Y.) entered the game with two outs in the fourth inning and ended the frame on a fielder's choice.

Streilein proceeded to pitch a 1-2-3 inning in the fifth and make possible the Villanova rally in the sixth inning. He was reached for two runs in the bottom of the sixth on Alex Avila's two-run double that reached the gap in left-center field and put Alabama ahead for good, 7-5. The Tide added insurance with two runs apiece in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to account for the final margin.

Shunk reached base in all five of his plate appearances and finished the game 4-for-4 with four singles and an intentional walk. James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases, while Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) had two hits with a run scored and RBI.

The top six hitters in the Alabama lineup combined for 12 hits with eight runs scored and eight driven in. Ryan Rhoden had three hits and Matt Bentley drove in three runs for the Crimson Tide. Patrick Kelly was the pitcher of record for Alabama, earning the win with 2 1/3 innings in which he allowed just two hits and an unearned run with three strikeouts.

Villanova gave the home team all it could handle in the three-game series this weekend. Despite only winning the opening game - a 6-1 final - the Wildcats out-hit Alabama 30-28 for the weekend and nearly pulled off a series victory. The Tide took the opening game on Saturday by a 5-3 final.

The Wildcats return to action next Friday when it begins a stretch of five games in Boca Raton, Fla. Friday's opponent will be Florida Atlantic, and the teams begin play at 7 p.m.