March 29, 2008

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. - Junior Wesley Borden (State College, Pa.) hit a three-run home run in a four-run third inning and sophomore Brian Streilein (Staten Island, N.Y.) navigated through eight solid innings to lead Villanova (8-14, 1-4 Big East) past Connecticut (12-11, 4-4 Big East), 7-2, on Saturday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field. The Wildcats snapped a six-game losing streak and earned their first conference victory of the season with the win.

Villanova had seven hits and drew nine walks in the game and manufactured runs with five sacrifice bunts and one sacrifice fly. The effective base-to-base offense was supported by key hits, as the Wildcats got on the board in the top of the first inning on a double by senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.).

In the top of the third, senior James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) singled home a run, freshman Dain Hall (Barrington, Ill.) followed with a base hit and Borden then drilled his first home run of the season to clear the bases and make the score 5-0.

Streilein pitched a career-high eight innings and both of the runs charged against him were unearned. He scattered nine hits on the afternoon while walking two and striking out five. He stranded nine runners on base and earned his second win of the season while making the longest start of a Villanova pitcher this season.

Shunk and Hall had two hits apiece for the Wildcats, who cruised to the win despite actually being outhit 9-7 in the game by the Huskies. In the top of the fourth, Shunk was at first base and sophomore Justin Bencsko (Pompton Plains, N.J.) at third with two outs when Villanova attempted a double steal. Shunk was tagged out to end the inning, but not before he got himself caught in a rundown for just long enough to allow Bencsko to score.

The Wildcats scored their final run of the game in the top of the eighth inning without the benefit of a hit. Senior Gus Guida (Martinsville, N.J.) led off with a walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.).

Junior Josh Eidell (Norristown, Pa.) pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out Peter Fatse with the bases loaded to close out the game.

Fatse went 2-for-4 and Pat Mahoney had two hits and a run scored for Connecticut. The loss was charged to starting pitcher Dan Mahoney. The freshman right-hander allowed five hits and six earned runs in four innings and issued six walks with two strikeouts.

The teams will meet for the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday at Noon.