March 26, 2006

Box Score

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - A throwing error in the fifth inning allowed two runs to score on an attempted sacrifice bunt and St. John's (13-7, 3-0 Big East) took the lead for good with three runs in the inning before going on to a 5-3 victory over Villanova (10-11, 0-3 Big East) on Sunday afternoon at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth.

Brendan Monaghan walked and Gino Matias singled leading off the fifth inning, and Bryan Dirr laid down a bunt to move the runners over. However, the throw to first was high and both runners ended up scoring, while Dirr raced all the way to third. A sacrifice fly brought him in to score and the Red Storm took a 4-1 lead that they would not relinquish.

The Wildcats found themselves trailing in the early innings for the third straight day, until sophomore Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) singled home Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Arcadia led off the inning with a single - the first baserunner allowed by St. John's starter Nick Luisi - and advanced to second on a balk ahead of Shunk's hit.

In the fifth inning, senior Kris Molloy (Hillsborough, N.J.) singled to score junior Andy Wendle (New London, Pa.) and narrow the deficit to 4-2. Villanova eventually got within one run in the eighth inning, as pinch hitter Joe Rosati (Havertown, Pa.) led off the inning with a single and pinch runner Darren Griffith (Edison, N.J.) eventually scored on a wild pitch. However, the Wildcats were unable to tie the game despite having the potential tying run at third base with one out. The Red Storm added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to account for the final margin.

Freshman Josh Eidell (Norristown, Pa.) worked five innings and allowed four hits in his second start in five days. He allowed four runs - two earned - while walking three and striking out four in his outing. Junior Nate Hall (Longmont, Colo.) pitched three scoreless innings and sophomore Gus Guida (Martinsville, N.J.) allowed an unearned run in the ninth.

Molloy was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Wildcats, while Arcadia and Wendle each were 1-for-3 with a run scored. Villanova managed just six baserunners on six singles in the game.

Anthony Smith had two hits for St. John's, while Monaghan singled, walked twice and scored two runs. Luisi pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits to record his third win of the season.

Villanova returns to action against Penn at home on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. The game is the first in this year's local Liberty Bell Classic.

NOTES: Rosati has reached base safely in all five of his pinch-hitting appearances this season ... He is 4-for-4 and has been hit by a pitch ... Eidell's other start came against Saint Joseph's in a 15-8 win on Wednesday ... He worked just the first two innings in that game to allow for today's start.