May 21, 2005

Final Stats

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - Villanova (28-21-2 Overall, 8-16-1 Big East) ended its 2005 season on Saturday afternoon, getting swept by scores of 5-0 and 7-2 against first-place St. John's (39-14, 19-4). The Wildcats finished the season with a winning record for the second straight year, and the third time in the last four years.

In the opening game of Saturday's twin-bill, the Red Storm scored two runs in the top of the first inning and added three more in the second to account for all of the runs in the game. Villanova was limited to just three hits by two St. John's pitchers in the seven-inning game. Senior Alan Day (Lake Ridge, Va.) singled twice and drew a walk in the game, while junior Kris Molloy (Hillsborough, N.J.) had the only other Wildcat hit.

On the mound, sophomore starting pitcher Kevin Mulvey (Parlin, N.J.) battled against Red Storm pitcher Anthony Sullivan. After surrendering the two first-inning runs, Mulvey (4-4, 4.65 ERA) got into a groove and allowed just five base runners over the final five innings. Overall, he allowed just eight hits, while walking three and striking out seven in his third complete game of the season.

P.J. Antoniato and Anthony Smith had two hits apiece in the game to lead St. John's, while Sullivan struck out nine batters in six scoreless innings to pick up his seventh win of the season.

In the nightcap, St. John's once again scored twice in the first inning, but the Wildcats came back with a pair of their own runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the score at 2-2. Freshman Ryan Arcadia (Boyertown, Pa.) and senior Angelo Petracca (Sanford, Fla.) each had run-scoring singles in the four-hit inning, which also featured singles from senior Mark Cardillo (Naples, Fla.) and junior Darren Griffith (Edison, N.J.).

After the Villanova rally, the Red Storm surged back into the lead with two runs in the fourth inning, and then put the game out of reach with three runs in the top of the eighth. Arcadia and Cardillo had two hits apiece for the Wildcats, while freshman James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) also had a hit.

Sophomore Mike Loree (Gillette, N.J.) started the game and worked 3.1 innings for Villanova. He surrendered four hits and four runs, before turning the game over to relievers Ted Aust (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Mike Grodecki (Northbrook, Ill.). Aust allowed six hits and three earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched, while Grodecki pitched the final 1.1 innings and allowed no hits or runs, walking two and striking out one.

Jim Wladyka pitched the first five innings and earned his seventh win of the season for St. John's, while standout closer Craig Hansen earned his 14th save of the season. Hansen pitched four hitless innings out of the bullpen, allowing one walk and striking out six. A pair of fly ball outs in the bottom of the eighth inning were the only balls hit out of the infield against the tall right-hander.