Early Runs for Pittsburgh Hurt Wildcats in 8-7 Loss

Terpak was a single short of cycle with three hits in the game

Dan Terpak had three hits and was a single short of the cycle on Saturday in an 8-7 loss to Pittsburgh.

April 21, 2007

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - In the second game of a weekend series, Villanova (18-17, 5-9 Big East) shut down Pittsburgh (18-16, 10-6 Big East) over the final five innings but could not recover from allowing all eight runs in the second and third innings of an 8-7 loss on Saturday afternoon at Trees Field.

Junior Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) had three hits and was just a single short of the cycle in the game, but the Wildcats managed just one run of their own in the final six innings. Two relievers for the Panthers combined for four innings of one-hit relief to preserve a one-run victory and assure Pittsburgh of winning the three-game series.

On Friday night Villanova plated single runs in six straight innings but put a big number up early in today's game with four runs in the top of the first. A walk and a single with one out set things up for Terpak, who went deep with a home run to center field for the second straight day. Junior James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) hit a solo shot later in the inning to stake the Wildcats to an early advantage.

Junior Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) walked and scored in the second inning to increase the margin to five runs, but Pittsburgh put up a six-spot in the bottom half and never trailed again. Gary Bucuren hit a run-scoring single and Morgan Kielty a two-run double in the frame, which was helped along by two Villanova errors. Only one of the six runs allowed in the inning was earned against junior starting pitcher Ryan Wendler (Conshohocken, Pa.).

Dolbier batted with runners at second and third with one out in the third inning and tied the game on a groundout that brought home junior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.). In the bottom half, however, Nick Mullins tripled and Peter Parise singled home what would prove to be the winning run.

The Wildcats trailed 8-6 in the fifth inning when Terpak tripled with one out for his third extra-base hit of the game. Senior Jim Gillin (Broomall, Pa.) scored Terpak with a sacrifice fly but the momentum in the inning and the game turned on the next play. With two outs and the bases empty Dolbier tripled to center field but was thrown out at the plate trying for the second inside-the-park home run of his career.

Villanova managed to get just two runners past first base the rest of the way and Parise picked up a save by working the final 2 2/3 innings without allowing a run.

Shunk had two hits and two runs scored for the Wildcats as he, Terpak and Dolbier accounted for all but one of the eight Villanova hits. Freshman Justin Bencsko (Pompton Plains, N.J.) had the other hit for the Wildcats, who have 16 hits in the first two games of the series while allowing 26 to the Panthers.

Junior Bill Hoffman (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) was outstanding in relief for Villanova, going 5 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Wendler was charged with the loss in 2 2/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs while walking three and striking out three.

Paul Nardozzi allowed seven hits and seven earned runs in five innings for the Panthers and earned the win. Kielty and Mullins had two hits apiece for Pittsburgh.

The final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at Noon.

Villanova University