May 10, 2009

Box Score

BETHESDA, Md. - In the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday night, Villanova (20-25, 5-17 Big East) nearly rallied from a seven-run deficit but was edged 7-6 by Georgetown (14-32, 6-16 Big East) as the teams split a twin-bill at Shirley Povich Field. The Wildcats won the opener, 16-2.

In the nightcap, the Hoyas scored all seven of their runs in the first three innings and then had to hang on while Villanova crept back into the game. Georgetown had four straight hits during a five-run first inning that quickly broke the game open and led 7-0 with two outs in the bottom of the third. That was when the Wildcats turned to junior reliever Michael Mayer (Midland Park, N.J.), who escaped a bases-loaded jam and went the final 5 1/3 innings for Villanova without allowing a run to give the team a chance to make its rally attempt.

Senior Wes Borden (State College, Pa.) hit a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to get the Wildcats started. An RBI groundout by sophomore Dain Hall (Barrington, Ill.) with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning added the third Villanova run ahead of a big rally in the seventh inning.

The Wildcats loaded the bases with none out in the seventh when pinch hitter Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) was hit by a pitch leading off, junior Justin Bencsko (Pompton Plains, N.J.) walked and senior Joe Rosatai (Havertown, Pa.) laid down a bunt single. Villanova then cashed in on a two-run seeing-eye single up the middle by redshirt freshman Matt Szczur (Erma, N.J.) and a line drive sacrifice fly to right field by senior Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.).

After his two-run single, Szczur stole second and took third on a wild pitch with still just one out, but the Hoyas brought the infield in to cut off the tying run, which they successfully did on a groundball out by redshirt freshman David Koczirka (Thornton, Pa.). The Wildcats again threatened to tie the score with two outs and nobody on in the top of the eighth inning, when freshman Kevin Stephens (Marlton, N.J.) pinch hit and hit a fly ball to the edge of the wall down the right field line that was caught for the final out of the inning, just inches shy of being a game-tying solo home run.

Szczur went 3-for-5 in the game, Borden had two hits and the pair each drove in two runs for Villanova. Mayer wound up allowing just three hits and a walk in his longest career outing, and benefited from the Wildcats turning inning-ending double plays in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings.

Starting pitcher Kevin Crimmel (Harrisburg, Pa.) was charged with the loss after allowing seven hits and six earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. Crimmel (3-4, 5.31 ERA) walked two and struck out one before leaving with a man-on in the second inning.

Erick Fernandez started the Georgetown rally in the first inning with an RBI double and added another run-scoring hit in the second inning. He finished 3-for-4 and Greg Pustizzi also drove in two runs. Tim Adleman (3-8) pitched seven innings and allowed eight hits and six earned runs to pick up the win, while walking two and striking out seven. Jared Cohen retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings for his first save of the season.

The rubber game of the weekend series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.

NOTES: Mayer has allowed just two earned runs over 13 innings pitched in his last four relief outings ... In the first game, he made his first career appearance as a non-pitcher when he pinch ran and scored a run for Villanova.