March 6, 2007

Box Score

PALM BEACH, Fla. - The first nine batters reached safely in the bottom of the first inning and Villanova (6-4) scored seven runs in its first time at the plate en route to a 11-2 victory on Tuesday afternoon over Mount St. Mary's (3-7) at the Santaluces Sports Complex.

Junior Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) threw six scoreless innings in his first start of the season, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a lone single to Ivor Hodgson with two outs. He walked two and struck out four to pick up the win.

After setting the side down in order in the first inning, Ellis pitched with a big lead for the remainder of the afternoon. Junior Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) doubled to lead off the bottom of the first inning, touching off a seven-run rally that featured five different batters reaching base with two strikes.

Sophomore Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) plated two runs with a single in the inning, while two other runs scored when an error was made on a fielders' choice with the bases loaded. Juniors Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) and James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) and sophomore Joe Rosati (Havertown, Pa.) all had run-scoring singles during the inning.

Villanova has outscored the opposition 11-0 in the first inning of games this season and 24-4 in the first two innings. All but one of the first-inning runs the team has scored this season have come in the past three games, and the Wildcats have outscored their last three opponents 20-1 in the first two innings.

Five different players had multi-hit games for Villanova, including a 4-for-5 day for Shunk, who extended his hitting streak to seven games and raised his batting average on the season to .536 (22-for-41). Shunk had two runs scored and two runs batted in, as did Dolbier, who was 3-for-4. Sophomore Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) walked twice, scored twice and was hit by a pitch.

The offensive output by Villanova chased the Mount starter, Craig Henson, after he threw 34 pitches without recording an out. Henson allowed four hits and two walks while being charged with seven runs (six earned) to take the loss. Mount St. Mary's was held to just four hits in its second loss to the Wildcats in the last three days.

The Wildcats play their final game in Florida on Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. against Boston College.

NOTES: Shunk is hitting .625 (10-for-16) on the Florida trip and has three four-hit games in his last five outings ... Villanova defeated the Mount 11-8 on Saturday ... McFolling has reached base six times in the last two games despite being an official 0-for-2 at the plate ... He has drawn five walks and been hit by a pitch ... The Wildcats forced 10 full counts in the game and reached base 10 times with two strikes in the count ... Five pitchers for Mount St. Mary's combined to throw 183 pitches in the game ... Villanova is 18-6 (.750) in the state of Florida since 2002.