April 25, 2007

Box Score

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - In the second meeting between the teams this season, Villanova (20-18) scored eight runs in the bottom of the second inning and went on to an 11-3 win over Saint Joseph's (6-30) on Wednesday afternoon at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The Wildcats also won the earlier meeting against the Hawks, 13-0, on April 3.

The turning point in the game came early on, as the first seven batters reached safely to start the bottom of the second inning. Five different players drove in runs in the frame, including a two-run double with the bases loaded by sophomore Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.). Junior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) started the rally with a double to center field and junior Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) also had a double in the inning.

Villanova totaled seven hits in the second inning but did not manage another hit until the bottom of the sixth. In between, however, Saint Joseph's was limited to just single runs in the third and fifth innings as the Wildcats maintained their lead despite being out-hit for much of the game. Junior Frank Jankowski (Berwick, Pa.) made his first start of the season and pitched three innings without allowing an earned run to pick up the win. Jankowski, working on a pitch count, struck out three and walked none while throwing better than 65 percent of his pitches for strikes.

Terpak, Cotter and junior Robert Parks (Brick, N.J.) all finished with two hits for Villanova, which added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Cotter drove in three runs for the second straight day while Parks had two RBI and two runs scored. Shunk finished with a hit and two runs scored, while he was robbed of an extra-base hit in the bottom of the eighth inning on a diving catch in center field by Tim Smith.

Four relievers combined to go the final six innings for the Wildcats. Junior Bill Hoffman (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) and freshman Tommy Grandieri (Media, Pa.) each worked a scoreless inning, while junior Ryan Wendler (Conshohocken, Pa.) and redshirt freshman Michael Mayer (Midland Park, N.J.) each went two innings. Mayer allowed two hits and had one struck out while allowing no earned runs.

Drew Smith had three hits for the Hawks, who out-hit Villanova 13-11 but stranded 13 runners on base. Despite getting hits in seven of nine innings and keeping pressure on the Wildcat defense, Saint Joseph's was just 3-for-16 (.188) with runners in scoring position. Don Werner (0-2) took the loss, allowing five hits and six earned runs during the big second inning.

Villanova goes on the road this weekend to play a conference series against Cincinnati. The Wildcats will be playing in Cincinnati for the first time but did take two of three games from the Bearcats in Plymouth Meeting last season.