April 9, 2005

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PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - A seven-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning of the opening game carried Villanova (18-8-1, 5-4 Big East) to an 8-2 victory, but Seton Hall (8-18, 2-7 BE) responded with an 11-3 victory in the second game of Saturday afternoon's conference doubleheader at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth.

The Wildcats trailed the first game 2-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, but started the inning with consecutive walks off starting pitcher Dan Merklinger before findings the offense with seven hits off reliever Mike Santmyer. Villanova had managed just one hit and a run off of Merklinger in the first five innings.

Freshman Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) and senior Angelo Petracca (Sanford, Fla.) walked leading off the inning, and junior Jeremy Hunt (Tampa, Fla.) bunted for a hit to load the bases. Senior Alan Day (Lake Ridge, Va.) singled to tie the game at 2-2, and a sacrifice fly by freshman James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) gave Villanova a 3-2 lead.

The offense was just starting to get revved up at that point, as senior Mark Cardillo (Naples, Fla.) singled to once again load the bases. Senior Kelly Pickel (Madison, Tenn.) had an RBI single, while junior Kris Molloy (Hillsborough, N.J.) and Shunk each scored two runs with hits of their own.

Villanova rallied for senior starter Nick Allen (Green Lane, Pa.). Allen allowed six hits and two earned runs in his outing, in which he picked up his team-high fifth win of the season and 18th of his career. The win moves him into sole possession of seventh place on the University's list of all-time performers.

The tables turned in the second game, as a Pirate offense that was batting just .210 heading into the day scored 11 runs on 16 hits to dismantle the Wildcats pitching. Day had an RBI single in the bottom of the first for Villanova that spotted the Wildcats a 1-0 lead, but it didn't hold from there. Seton Hall tied the game with a single run in the third inning, and plated another in the fourth for a 2-1 lead. Villanova had opportunities to tie the game or even take the lead, but each time was turned away. Seton Hall then erupted for four runs in the seventh inning and four more in the ninth.

Sophomore Mike Loree (Summit, N.J.) worked the first six innings of the game and took the loss to fall to 4-2 on the season. Freshman Dan McDonald pitched a complete game for Seton Hall, limiting the Wildcats to just four hits, while walking seven and striking out seven. He also batted in lieu of a designated hitter and was 1-for-5.

The teams conclude the three-game weekend series with a single, nine-inning game on Sunday at noon.