Feb. 25, 2006

Box Score (HTML)
Box Score (PDF)

AUSTIN, Texas - Junior starting pitcher Mike Loree (Gillette, N.J.) stymied the Longhorns through the first five innings, but Texas (8-6) scratched across two runs in the sixth inning and went on to a 4-1 victory over Villanova (2-3) on Saturday afternoon at Disch-Falk Field. The teams were playing the second game in a three-game series.

After being shut down through the first 12 innings of the series, the Wildcats offense produced its first run of the weekend in the fourth inning. Senior Craig Mirsky (Holland, Pa.) singled to start the inning - the second of his three hits on the day - and sophomore Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) battled the count full before advancing Mirsky to second with a groundout. Mirsky stole third one out later, and came in to score when a bouncing ball by senior Jeremy Hunt (Tampa, Fla.) got by the shortstop.

The Longhorns would break through in the sixth inning, however, and two runs in the frame would be all they needed to win for the third straight outing. Leadoff hitter Nick Peoples tripled to start the home sixth, and Jordan Danks followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Drew Stubbs laid down a bunt single and Carson Kainer had a sacrifice, putting runners at second and third with one out. The go-ahead run scored when Kyle Russell hit a sacrifice fly to left-center field. Russell hit a sinking liner into the gap that Villanova left fielder Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) reached with a sliding catch that prevented another run from scoring.

The Wildcats were unable to threaten the Texas lead over the final three innings, as a one-out walk by redshirt junior Jim Gillin (Broomall, Pa.) in the top of the seventh was the only runner Villanova managed the rest of the way.

Loree (0-2, 3.46 ERA) needed only 82 pitches in his seven-inning outing. He scattered six hits and just the two earned runs in the sixth inning, while walking two and striking out four. With the game scoreless early on, Loree worked together with his defense to get the third out in each of the first two innings. In the first, he was called for a balk that allowed Stubbs to reach second base. Undeterred though, Loree threw to third baseman Gus Guida (Martinsville, N.J.) before the next pitch, and Stubbs was eventually caught stealing 1-5-6. In the second inning, the Longhorns had runners at the corners with one out. Loree struck out Preston Clark, however, and the inning came to an end when Bradley Suttle was out at second base on batter's interference by Clark.

Redshirt junior Jim Gillin (Broomall, Pa.) drew a walk leading off in the fifth inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by redshirt freshman Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.). Sophomore Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) singled through the right side with two outs, but a strong throw by right fielder Kyle Russell nabbed Gillin at the plate to end the inning.

Sunday afternoon will mark the final game of the three-game series. Making the start for Villanova will be sophomore Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), while Randy Boone will take the hill for Texas. First pitch is at 12:05 p.m.