May 3, 2006

Box Score

AMBLER, Pa. - Playing against a Diamond Five opponent for the final time this season, Villanova (24-20) jumped in front with seven runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 13-3 victory over Temple (9-34) on Wednesday afternoon. The Wildcats finish with a 7-1 record for the year against its city rivals, winning their final seven contests after an early-season loss to La Salle.

In today's outing, sophomore Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) and senior Craig Mirsky (Holland, Pa.) combined to go 8-for-9 at the top of the lineup and Villanova rapped out 19 hits for the afternoon. Arcadia and Mirsky had four hits apiece, while senior Jeremy Hunt (Tampa, Fla.) provided the big hit in a four-run first inning with his Big East-high 14th home run of the season.

The outpouring of offense supported redshirt sophomore pitcher Bill Hoffman (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), who drew his first start of the season. In the longest outing of his collegiate career, Hoffman allowed six hits and just two earned runs in seven innings, walking one and striking out seven. He then turned things over to the bullpen, as sophomore Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and redshirt junior Jake Wolff (Randolph, N.J.) each pitched a scoreless inning.

In the first inning, sophomore Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) singled with one out and Mirsky scored when an error was made on the play. Hunt followed with a two-run home run and freshman Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) doubled home a run later in the inning to five Villanova a 4-0 lead. After Hoffman retired the side in order in the bottom of the first, Mirsky singled home two runs in the second inning and a third run came home when Shunk grounded into a double play.

Mirsky had two runs scored and drove in three for the day, with a triple among his four hits. Arcadia also had two runs scored and senior Kris Molloy (Hillbsorough, N.J.) was 1-for-1 with three runs scored and two walks. McFolling doubled twice and junior Frank Cirone (Arlington Heights, Ill.) had two hits in six at-bats.

The Owls plated single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings but never came close to threatening the Wildcats big lead. Leadoff hitter Jamie Abercrombie had two hits and two runs scored, while Frank Nunan had two hits and drove in two runs. Tim Andrel took the loss, allowing seven runs and eight hits in two innings.

Villanova will host a three-game series against Cincinnati this weekend, with the series opener on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

NOTES: Saturday is Youth Baseball Day at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth, while Sunday is High School Baseball Day ... Mirsky's triple was his fourth of the season and the team's 19th of 2006 ... The Wildcats have now tied the club record for triples in a season.