May 2, 2008

Recap |  Box Score

The Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth opened on March 23, 2003 against Notre Dame and the very first game at the stadium resulted in a walk-off victory. The Wildcats defeated the Fighting Irish that day, 3-2, in 13 innings on a two-out single by Danny Poydenis. Villanova is now 16-4 (.800) at home this season and 81-49-1 (.622) all-time at the site. The Wildcats have 11 walk-off victories at their stadium.

Walk-Off Wins at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth

March 23, 2003 vs. Notre Dame: 3-2 in 13 innings (2-out single by Danny Poydenis)
April 26, 2003 vs. Georgetown: 4-3 in 8 innings (2-out walk to Mitch Mitchell)
March 14, 2004 vs. Cornell: 7-6 in 11 innings (2-out single by Kelly Pickel)
May 4, 2005 vs. Temple: 11-10 in 9 innings (1-out reach on error by James Dolbier)
May 5, 2006 vs. Cincinnati: 7-6 in 11 innings (0-out balk scored Kris Molloy)
March 24, 2007 vs. Louisville: 1-0 in 9 innings (0-out sacrifice bunt/error by Matt McFolling)
April 13, 2007 vs. South Florida: 3-2 in 10 innings (2-out single by Dan Terpak)
May 18, 2007 vs. Rutgers: 5-4 in 12 innings (1-out walk to Joe Cotter)
March 7, 2008 vs. Hartford: 2-1 in 9 innings (1-out passed ball scored Joe Rosati)
April 1, 2008 vs. La Salle: 10-9 in 9 innings (1-out single by Ryan Arcadia)
May 2, 2008 vs. Pittsburgh: 4-3 in 9 innings (1-out home run by Kyle Carver)

Villanova has won five games this season in which it scored the winning run in its final at-bat. The games include three walk-off wins, as well as a 4-2 win over St. Peter's on March 15 and a 5-3 win over Georgetown on April 5. Since 2004, the Wildcats have won 27 games in which it scored the winning run in its last at-bat, including 12 walk-off victories (two of the walk-off wins came at neutral sites). In the same time period, Villanova has been beaten 23 times in games where the opponent scored in its last at-bat or in walk-off fashion. The Wildcats lost games by way of a walk-off home run to Louisville on May 22, 2007 and to La Salle on April 28, 2005.

Since 2004, Villanova has only hit seven home runs in the ninth inning of a game. Two of those seven home runs have come this season. In addition to Carver's walk-off blast today, junior Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) hit a home run to lead off the ninth inning in a 3-2 loss at Lehigh on March 25.

Junior Kyle Carver (Aldan, Pa.) is now tied for second on the team with five home runs this season, four of which have come in his last seven games. He hit his second career game-winning home run, as his other one gave Villanova the lead for good in the top of the eighth inning of a 13-5 win at Temple on April 22.

Today's game marked the opening game of the Wildcats' seventh Big East series of the season. The only other time Villanova won the first game of a conference series this season came on April 4 at home against Georgetown. The Wildcats went on to sweep the series with the Hoyas.

Senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) played in his 203rd career game to break the previous school record of 202 held by Rob Cafiero (1999-02). Shunk is also the school's career record holder with 263 hits and 774 at-bats.

In his last outing prior to today's game, junior Josh Eidell (Norristown, Pa.) pitched four innings last Sunday to earn the win against South Florida in a 9-7 triumph by the Wildcats. In his 15 relief outings this season, Eidell is 3-2 with seven saves and a 1.40 ERA.