March 28, 2008

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. - Villanova (7-14, 0-4 Big East) surrendered all 12 runs in the second through fourth innings and dropped a 12-1 decision to Connecticut (12-10, 4-3 Big East) on Friday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field. The Huskies scored twice in the second inning, four times in the bottom of the third and six times in the fourth inning.

Senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) had three hits and drove in the only Wildcat run in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Dain Hall (Barrington, Ill.) reached on an error to start the inning and scored one out later on Shunk's second hit of the game.

The runs came in bunches for Connecticut after both teams went down in order in the first inning. Mike Nemeth doubled home two runs in the bottom of the second inning to get the Huskies started. His double scored Peter Fatse, who doubled earlier in the inning and added a second double to score a run in the third. Matt Burnett and Pat Mahoney also added run-scoring singles in the inning.

The Huskies chased senior Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning, and the three inherited runners all eventually scored against sophomore Kevin Crimmel (Harrisburg, Pa.). Ellis was charged with 10 runs in his 3 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits, walking five and striking out three.

Villanova held the Connecticut bats in check over the late innings as senior Ryan Wendler (Conshohocken, Pa.) closed out the fourth inning and junior Kyle Carver (Aldan, Pa.) tossed three scoreless innings from the fifth through the seventh. Junior Michael Mayer (Midland Park, N.J.) worked a scoreless eighth inning.

Fatse finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI for the Huskies and Nemeth drove in three runs. Mahoney and Pierre LePage each had two hits and two runs scored as Connecticut totaled 12 hits on the afternoon.

John Folano pitched five innings and allowed just an unearned run on three hits to pick up his second win of the season. He walked one and struck out five in his first start of the season after six relief outings. Mike Hashem pitched two scoreless innings and Ryan Mikalsen and Ted Hurvul each tossed one scoreless frame.

The second game of the weekend series will begin at Noon on Saturday. Sophomore Brian Streilein (Staten Island, N.Y.) draws the start for the Wildcats.