April 29, 2006

Box Score

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Stan Posluszny crushed a 2-and-2 pitch over the right field fence leading off the ninth inning, lifting West Virginia (29-14, 9-8 Big East) to a 7-6 victory over Villanova (22-20, 5-11 Big East) on Saturday afternoon at Hawley Field. With the win, the Mountaineers have taken the first two games of the weekend and clinched a win in the weekend series against the Wildcats.

Villanova trailed for much of the game, but a single by junior Frank Cirone (Arlington Heights, Ill.) in the top of the eighth plated senior Jeremy Hunt (Tampa, Fla.) to tie the game at 6-6. Cirone moved to second base on one of the Wildcats seven sacrifice bunts for the afternoon, and two straight pinch hitters reached base safely on a walk and infield hit. However, West Virginia reliever Levi Maxwell escaped the inning with a double play, and Villanova was unable to manufacture any further offense in the top of the ninth.

The Wildcats totaled 13 hits on the day, compared with 10 for West Virginia, and lost for just the fourth time in 21 games this season when out-hitting the opposition. Senior Kris Molloy (Hillsborough, N.J.) went 3-for-4 and Hunt had three hits with a run scored and run batted in. Sophomore Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) drove in three runs, laying down a sacrifice on a safety squeeze in the third inning and hitting a two-run homer in the fifth inning that narrowed a 6-3 deficit to one run.

Unlike on Friday night, when Villanova managed just two hits after the Mountaineers scored six runs in the sixth inning, the Wildcats rallied with three runs in the top of the third inning to tie the game at 3-3 after West Virginia went ahead in the bottom of the second. Senior Darren Griffith (Edison, N.J.) drew a walk to start the third inning and Molloy bunted for a single. Sophomores Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) and Shunk drove in Villanova's first two runs on a single and sacrifice bunt, respectively, and Hunt tied the game with a double off the fence in center field.

However, West Virginia went right back on top, scoring one run in the bottom of the third and two more in the fourth to go ahead by a 6-3 margin. In the fourth inning, the Mountaineers loaded the bases with one out on an infield hit, dribbler up the middle and a bouncer over the pitcher's head. One run scored on a fielder's choice when a throw to home plate failed to get a force-out, and a dropped throw at second base on another fielder's choice accounted for the final run.

Junior starting pitcher Kevin Mulvey (Parlin, N.J.) took a no-decision despite pitching seven strong innings. He allowed nine hits and six runs, but just three of the runs were earned as Villanova's defense increased its error total to 10 over the past three games. Mulvey (3.46 ERA) remained stuck on three wins for the season while striking out seven and walking just two, none after the second inning.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Mountaineers jumped ahead with a three-run rally, as the defensive woes that plagued the Wildcats in the first game of the series once again became a factor. After a leadoff walk, two straight bunts were misplayed, resulting in one hit, one error and the bases loaded with none out. Mulvey nearly escaped the inning, striking out the next batter for the first out. Leadoff hitter Tyler Kuhn hit a line drive that was caught by Hunt at first base, and Mulvey was within one out of working out of the jam. However, a passed ball allowed a run to score, and Doug Nelms singled to drive home two more runs.

The final game of the series is on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., with freshman Josh Eidell (Norristown, Pa.) getting the start for the Wildcats.