April 26, 2006

Box Score

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - Sophomores Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and Frank Jankowski (Berwick, Pa.) combined on an eight-hitter and Villanova (22-18) edged Saint Joseph's (15-28) 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The Wildcats have won eight of their last nine games overall and are 6-1 this season against Philadelphia Diamond Five opponents.

Villanova mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the first inning that produced three runs, more than enough offense for a pitching staff that has not allowed an earned run to a non-conference team in 46 straight innings. Sophomore Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) and senior Jeremy Hunt (Tampa, Fla.) each singled after there were two out and nobody on in the first. Freshman Joe Rosati (Havertown, Pa.) blooped a ball into right field that got past the Hawks' diving right fielder and went for a two-run triple, and he scored one pitch later when junior Frank Cirone (Arlington Heights, Ill.) doubled off the fence in left field.

Ellis (4-1, 4.29 ERA) navigated through the first five innings, stranding eight of the 10 runners that reached base against him. He had five walks and five strikeouts, allowing just four hits and inducing Saint Joseph's to leave five runners in scoring position. Jankowski took over in the sixth inning and went the rest of the way for Villanova, allowing four hits and striking out five. He allowed two runners to reach base in the ninth but got the Hawks down to their last out before a fielding error allowed an unearned run to score.

Hunt had three hits to raise hit batting average to .338 on the season, while Shunk had two hits and a run scored. Hunt also scored a run and drove in the team's final run of the game on an infield hit in the fifth inning.

Mike Gentile was 4-for-5 for Saint Joseph's and Ben Wendle had two hits. Starting pitcher Chris Prescott took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in four innings of work.

Villanova will go back on the road this weekend to play a three-game series against West Virginia from Friday through Sunday. The series opens Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at Hawley Field.

NOTES: Since beginning the season with a 7-7 record and 6.73 ERA in its first 14 non-conference games, Villanova is 10-2 with a 2.49 ERA against non-league foes ... The Wildcats had pitched four straight shutouts and gone 45.2 scoreless innings against non-conference opponents before Saint Joseph's plated its lone run in the top of the ninth ... Ellis has pitched in two games during the 12-game stretch and has gone 10 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in those appearances ... Hawks right fielder Ben Wendle is the younger brother of Wildcat junior catcher Andy Wendle (New London, Pa.) ... The Wildcats game against West Virginia on Friday night will be the team's first night game of the season after 40 straight games during the day ... Last season Villanova was 3-2 in night games.