April 5, 2007

Box Score
Game 1 Recap: St. John's 4, Villanova 3

JAMAICA, N.Y. - While the first game of Thursday's doubleheader went down to the wire in a pitchers' duel, the second game was a slugfest that was controlled throughout by St. John's (14-11, 5-3 Big East) on Thursday at Jack Kaiser Stadium. Villanova (13-12, 3-5 Big East) allowed five runs in each of the first two innings in the nightcap and was defeated 16-9.

Trailing 12-2 in the fifth inning, the Wildcats saw their biggest hit of the game come off the bat of senior Jim Gillin (Broomall, Pa.), who hit a grand slam that made the score 12-7. Villanova loaded the bases on a walk and pair of singles. Junior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) was hit by a pitch to force in a run and Gillin hit his first home run of the year one out later.

In the sixth inning, junior Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) doubled home a run and scored himself on a dropped fly ball in right field, drawing the Wildcats to within 13-9. That was as close as Villanova would get however, as St. John's plated single runs in the fifth and sixth innings before getting two runs in the seventh.

The Wildcats had 13 hits in the losing effort, including two apiece from four different players. Arcadia and sophomore Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) each had two hits and two runs scored with one RBI, while Gillin was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI.

Sam DeLuca had four hits and three runs scored for the Red Storm while Anthony Smith went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Chris Anninos and Gino Matias each had three hits for the game.

Matt Tosoni picked up the win in relief for St. John's, allowing seven hits and two runs in 4 1/3 innings. He replaced starter Jared Yecker, who went 4 2/3 innings and allowed six hit and seven earned runs. The losing pitcher for Villanova was junior Bill Hoffman (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), who surrendered seven runs in one-plus inning of work.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, St. John's rallied from a 3-0 deficit to come out on top in a 4-3 triumph. The teams conclude their three-game weekend series on Saturday at 1 p.m.