Villanova to Face Delaware in Liberty Bell Semifinals on Tuesday at Veterans Stadium

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Villanova to Face Delaware in Liberty Bell Semifinals on Tuesday at Veterans Stadium

Wildcat Baseball Liberty Bell Classic Game Notes.

Senior second baseman Matt Longo needs just two hits to tie the Villanova all-time career record of 232 hits held by Mike Neill. (Chris Hampson photo)

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April 24, 2001

Liberty Bell Classic Semifinals

Villanova Wildcats

18-21-1 Overall, 7-13 Big East

versus

Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens

27-10 Overall, 12-4 America East

Tuesday, April 24, 2001 at 3:00 p.m.

Veterans Stadium

Philadelphia, Pa.

Games Notes:

Big East Conference 2001 Standings

Team Big East Overall

Notre Dame 15-2-0 35-5-1

Rutgers 13-7-0 32-12-0

St. John's 13-7-0 23-15-0

Seton Hall 12-7-1 24-16-1

Connecticut 11-9-0 19-20-0

Virginia Tech 10-9-1 19-22-1

West Virginia 7-10-0 21-20-0

Villanova 7-13-0 18-21-1

Georgetown 6-14-0 13-32-0

Boston College 4-11-0 19-19-0

Pittsburgh 3-12-0 15-17-0

Big East Weekly Honors (April 22, 2001)

Player of the Week: Steve Stanley, Notre Dame

Co-Pitcher of the Week: Tony Pina, Georgetown

Co-Pitcher of the Week: Danny Tamayo, Notre Dame

Villanova Tops St. Joseph's in 2001 LBC Opener:

On Tuesday, April 17, in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic at Veterans Stadium, the Villanova baseball team defeated St. Joseph's, 5-4, in 11 innings to move over the .500 mark at 18-17-1 for the first time since being 7-6-1 on March 19th. The game went into extra innings with the score tied at 4-4, as the Hawks rallied from a 4-2 ninth inning deficit. With the game still knotted at 4-4 in the top of the 11th, the Wildcats loaded the bases on a Nick Piantek single and two walks. The next batter, catcher Dan Glover, was hit by a pitch to force in Piantek with the go-ahead run to put Villanova up 5-4. In the bottom of the 11th inning with the tying run on second and one out, Wildcat reliever Adrian Schau struck out Bradshaw swinging and got Gibson to fly out to center field to secure the 5-4 victory for Villanova. Schau (2-0) picked up his second win of the season, striking out three batters in two scoreless innings. Boylan took the loss for St. Joseph's to fall to 2-5. At the plate for the Wildcats, Piantek went three-for-six with two runs scored, Pizzini went two-for-five with two runs scored and one RBI, and Cafiero went two-for-five with two doubles and one RBI.

Villanova at the Liberty Bell Classic (1992-2001):

2001 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: Villanova 5, St. Joseph's 4 (11 innings-4/17/01)

2000 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: Lehigh 4, Villanova 3 (3/28/00)

1999 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: Villanova 11, Pennsylvania 10 (3/30/99)

Semifinals: Villanova 12, Temple 10 (4/6/99)

Finals: Villanova 14, St. Joseph's 13 (4/8/99)

Co-Most Valuable Players:

Rob Cafiero, 1B, 7-for-15, two HR, three doubles, five runs, 10 RBI

Matt Longo, 2B, 6-for-10, two HR, one double, eight runs, seven RBI

1998 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: Villanova 15, Pennsylvania 6 (6 innings-4/1/98)

Semifinals: Villanova 16, St. Joseph's 4 (4/14/98)

Finals: Villanova 10, Delaware 6 (4/16/98)

Most Valuable Player:

Tom Shank, 2B, 7-for-12, one double, one HR, five runs, nine RBI

1997 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: Villanova 7, Drexel 1 (4/4/97)

Semifinals: Villanova 11, La Salle 3 (4/7/97)

Finals: Delaware 4, Villanova 1 (4/9/97)

1996 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: St. Joseph's 11, Villanova 7 (4/11/96)

1995 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: Villanova 13, West Chester 4 (4/5/95)

Semifinals: Villanova 5, Drexel 1 (4/6/95)

Finals: Delaware 3, Villanova 1

1994 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: St. Joseph's 6, Villanova 5 (3/29/94)

1993 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: Villanova 11, West Chester 4 (4/6/93)

Semifinals: Drexel 9, Villanova 8 (4/7/93)

1992 Liberty Bell Classic

First Round: Villanova 7, Temple 4 (3/31/92)

Semifinals: Villanova 9, West Chester 8 (4/14/92)

Finals: Delaware 6, Villanova 2 (4/17/92)

Villanova All-Time vs. Opponents at the LBC

West Chester 3-0

Pennsylvania 2-0

Temple 2-0

La Salle 1-0

Drexel 2-1

St. Joseph's 3-2

Delaware 1-3

Lehigh 0-1

Total 14-7

Villanova versus LBC Teams in 2001:

La Salle 2-0

St. Joseph's 1-1-1

Delaware 0-2

Temple 0-2

Lehigh 0-0

Penn 0-0

Drexel 0-0

Total 3-5-1

Longo Breaking Records:

Currently in the midst of his senior season at Villanova in 2001, second baseman Matt Longo has already broken four school records and has a chance to break several more before his career at Villanova is complete. Earlier this season, Longo broke the Villanova career records for doubles (53, Mike Neill) and games played (182, Bob McCreary). On April 17 versus St. Joseph's in the opening round of the Liberty Bell Classic at Veterans Stadium, he set a new mark for total bases in a career, surpassing the old record of 379 held by Mike Neill. And finally, on Sunday, April 22, at No. 2 Notre Dame, Longo broke the school record for at bats in a career held by 1989 graduate Bob McCreary (678). The following are several more records within Longo's reach:


Category	Longo	Record

Hits	230	232, Mike Neill (1989-91)

Runs	187	201, Jim Sears (1988-91)

Villanova's Man of Steal:

Sophomore center fielder Chris Graziano has caused havoc on the base-paths in 2001. Despite missing the last 10 games with a sprained ankle sustained on April 10 versus Philadelphia University, Graziano has stolen 25 bases in 28 attempts. He currently ranks sixth in the nation in steals per game at 0.81. With just two more stolen bases, he will break the Villanova single season record for stolen bases set by Brian Fili, who stole 26 bases in 1997.

A Late Season surge:

Going into Villanova's game versus Philadelphia University on Tuesday, April 3, senior left fielder Dave Pizzini was hitting .321, 73 points under his 2000 batting average of .394. During the week of April 2-8, however, Pizzini posted 16 hits in 22 at-bats to raise his average to .404. He was named the Big East Player of the Week for his performance during that time. Since March 31st, Pizzini has 30 hits in 65 at-bats for a .462 average, as well as 12 runs scored, five doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI. A first team All-Big East selection in 2000, Pizzini is currently batting .378 with 22 runs scored, eight doubles, a triple, two home runs and 17 RBI in the Wildcats' first 40 games. He is currently eighth in the Big East in batting for overall games.

Piantek Bringing Power to the Plate:

Despite batting .333 last season, senior designated hitter Nick Piantek had just one home run and 31 RBI, well below his season averages of 8.5 home runs and 43 RBI that he posted during his first two seasons. In 2001, Piantek has rediscovered his power stroke, and is currently among the team and Big East leaders in a number of offensive categories. Batting .347 thus far in 2001, he has recorded 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 35 RBI, and a .562 slugging percentage. Piantek is first on the team in doubles, triples, RBI, and slugging, second in home runs and third in batting. Among the Big East's leaders, he is tied for fifth in RBI, tied for ninth in home runs, eighth in total bases and 10th in slugging percentage for overall games.

Bennett Among the Elite Coaches:

In his 16th season at Villanova University in 2001, Wildcat head coach George Bennett is 456-320-6 at the school. In his 20th season at the collegiate ranks, Bennett holds a 524-368-9 all-time record. With a 6-2 victory over Georgetown in the second game of a doubleheader on April 15, 2000, he picked up his 500th career coaching victory. Just another milestone for this two-time Big East Coach of the Year. During his first 15 seasons on the Main Line, Bennett has guided the Wildcats to Big East regular season titles in 1993 & 1996, and to Big East Tournament titles in 1989 & 1991. In addition, he led two of his teams (1989, 1991) to the NCAA Tournament. Bennett's 1989 squad advanced to within one game of the College World Series before falling to Miami.

All-Time Villanova Baseball Coaching Records:

George Bennett 456-317-6

Arthur Mahan 262-155-5

Charles McGeehan 211-153-4

Larry Shane 153-191-3

Frederick Crolius 116-45-5

George "Doc" Jacobs 106-37-0

Philip Weinert 43-28-0

Fr. Edward McCarthy 8-16-2

Al Severance 4-1-0

Villanova Among the Big East Conference Leaders

Overall Games