April 18, 2007

Box Score

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - A seven-run first inning paved the way and Villanova (18-15) rapped out 17 hits in a 13-3 win over Coppin State (0-33) on Wednesday afternoon at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The Wildcats have now won three straight games and five of their last six outings over the past week.

Junior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) hit a two-run double and sophomore Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) scored two with a single in the seven-run first inning. The inning started with a walk and a single before Shunk's double off the fence in left field plated the first two runs of the inning. A total of 11 men came to the plate in the frame, which was capped by Cotter's two-out, two-run single. He eventually scored on one of three wild pitches in the inning.

Villanova used 21 players in the romp, with 12 players getting at least one hit to lead the team. Shunk had two doubles and a run scored before coming out of the game, while freshman Justin Bencsko (Pompton Plains, N.J.) reached base four times with two hits and two walks. He scored two runs and sophomore Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) had two hits with a run scored and a run batted in.

The Wildcats scored in each of the first four innings and led 12-1 before the Eagles scored twice in the top of the seventh inning. Sean Yampierre walked and Marcus Robin singled to open the inning and leadoff hitter Sebastian Fomenko singled home both runners with two outs.

With a critical BIG EAST Conference series against Pittsburgh looming this weekend, Villanova used seven different pitchers to save the bullpen for the series against the Panthers. Junior Bill Hoffman (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) worked two scoreless innings while throwing just 17 pitches and earned the win. He allowed two hits and struck out two. Juniors Gus Guida (Martinsville, N.J.) and Frank Jankowski (Berwick, Pa.), along with freshmen A.J. Anido (Devon, Pa.) and Tommy Grandieri (Media, Pa.), each worked a scoreless inning in the game.

Grandieri also played left field and first base in the game and finished the day 2-for-5, while junior James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) came off the bench to get two hits - including a double - with one run scored and one driven in.

Archie Scott took the loss for Coppin State, allowing five hits, four walks and eight earned runs in one-plus inning of work. Fomenko finished the game 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Teon Richburg was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

The series against Pittsburgh this weekend begins with a 6 p.m. contest on Friday and continues with games on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at Noon. The Wildcats took two of three games from the Panthers in Plymouth Meeting last season.

NOTES: Freshman Ryan Bottegal (Silver Spring, Md.) made his collegiate debut as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning ... He is the 34th player used in a game by Villanova this season ... Senior Mike Lisavich (Salem, N.H.) played the ninth inning in left field, his first appearance in the field this season ... He also pitched a scoreless inning in a victory over New Jersey Tech last month.