May. 1, 2005

Final Stats

BOSTON, Mass. - Host Boston College (31-14, 14-5 Big East) cooled off the Wildcats offense on Sunday, holding Villanova (24-16-2, 7-11-1 BE) to one run in each game of a doubleheader sweep. The Eagles defeated the Wildcats 10-1 and 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at Shea Field, completing a three-game sweep in the weekend series.

In the opening game, Boston College collected 15 hits and broke open a 3-0 game with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Eagles had five players with at least two hits and hit two home runs in the rout.

Villanova entered the three-game series having batted .329 over its past nine games, but was held to just five hits in the opening game by Boston College senior pitcher Joe Martinez. Martinez carried a perfect game through six innings, but freshman Ryan Arcadia (Boyertown, Pa.) led off the seventh inning with a double and classmate Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) followed with a single. Junior Jeremy Hunt (Tampa, Fla.) eventually doubled with two outs to score Shunk with the Wildcats only run of the game.

In the nightcap, base runners were plentiful for Villanova, which outhit the Eagles 10-6 in the 4-1 loss. However, the Wildcats stranded 15 runners on base, including eight in scoring position. Hunt and sophomore Andy Wendle (New London, Pa.) each went 3-for-4, but the team was just 1-for-13 (.071) with runners in scoring position.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, when Wendle singled to score senior Alan Day (Lake Ridge, Va.) and hand the Wildcats their only lead of the afternoon, 1-0. However, the Eagles came right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs to knock down Villanova for good.

Sophomore pitcher Kevin Mulvey (Parlin, N.J.) worked seven innings in the second game and was charged with his third loss of the season. Mulvey allowed just six hits and four runs (three earned) in his appearance, while walking and striking out four. In the opening game, sophomore pitcher Mike Loree (Gillette, N.J.) took the loss after allowing five earned runs in 5.1 innings.

Getting swept in the weekend series hurt the Wildcats in the Big East standings. Villanova entered the weekend in fifth place, and trailed Rutgers by just one game for the final spot in the Big East Tournament later this month. The Wildcats, at 7-11-1 in the conference, now stand in seventh place, and trail Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Connecticut. Villanova is 0-6-1 in its last seven conference games.

The Wildcats return to action at home this Wednesday with a 3 p.m. game against Temple.