May 14, 2006

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Although Villanova (26-24, 8-15 Big East) had more hits than its hosts for the second straight day and had 21 runners on base, the Wildcats left the bases loaded four times and were defeated 9-4 on Sunday afternoon at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville (24-28, 14-10) completed a three-game sweep of the weekend series and became the fourth team to clinch a spot in the Big East Tournament later this month.

Villanova batted around in the top of the second inning and scored three runs, but was prevented from breaking the game open by leaving the bases loaded in both the second and third innings. The Cardinals got the three runs back in the bottom of the second to tie the score at 3-3.

Senior Jeremy Hunt (Tampa, Fla.) and freshman Joe Rosati (Havertown, Pa.) led off the second inning with back-to-back doubles that gave the Wildcats the lead, and redshirt junior Jim Gillin (Broomall, Pa.) singled up the middle to score Rosati. Sophomore Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) added a two-out single for the final run. With the bases loaded and three runs already in, sophomore Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) hit a line drive that was saved from going down the left field line by Louisville's diving third baseman.

The Wildcats left the bases loaded again in the third inning, and Shunk had a second hit taken away from him by another defensive play at third base by Nick Haley. In all, Villanova stranded eight runners on base in the first four innings and wound up leaving 17 runners on base for the game.

The Cardinals had two runners on base with two outs in the second inning, when Alex Lowrey singled to center field to drive in two runs. Chris Cates reached on an infield hit two batters later that allowed the third run to score. A sacrifice fly by Cates in the bottom of the fourth inning gave Louisville a 4-3 lead, and the Cardinals added insurance with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

Junior Frank Cirone (Arlington Heights, Ill.) drove in a run with a two-out single in the eighth inning, but the Wildcats left the bases loaded once again. Louisville answered Villanova with its final three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Hunt reached base three times on the afternoon, going 2-for-4 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to 15 games and his streak of reaching base safely to 29 straight games. The Wildcats had nine hits total, but were 5-for-18 (.278) with runners in scoring position and 6-for-25 (.240) overall with runners on base. Shunk, Gillin and senior Craig Mirsky (Holland, Pa.) each drew two of the 10 walks by Villanova.

Villanova plays its final non-conference game on Tuesday afternoon at home against Penn State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The Wildcats also host Notre Dame in a three-game series from Thursday through Saturday in the final three games of the regular season.