March 15, 2000
Box Score
Philadelphia, Pa.--- On Wednesday, March 15, at Richie Ashburn Field in Philadelphia, the Villanova baseball team was defeated, 15-5, by the University of Delaware. The loss ended the Wildcats' win streak at four games, dropping their record to 6-6 overall on the season. The Fightin' Blue Hen's improve to 6-5 with the victory.
Delaware scored three runs off Villanova starter Drew Kirchner in the top of the first inning to take an early 3-0 lead. The Wildcats came back with two of their own in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to one run at 3-2. Right fielder Brian Hearne led off the inning with a singled and scored one batter later on an RBI-double by junior left fielder Dave Pizzini. Pizzini would later score on a wild pitch by Hens' pitcher Rich McGuire.
In the second inning, Delaware got back to back doubles to start the inning by Vince Vukovich and Steve Harden. Before the second frame was over, the Blue Hens extended their lead to 6-2.
Villanova scored one run in the third, fourth and fifth innings to trim the Delaware advantage to 6-5. The Blue Hens would put the game away in the top of the fifth with five runs to extend their lead to 11-5. Harden keyed the inning with a two-RBI double. With four more runs in the eighth, Delaware coasted to a 15-5 win.
Kirchner took the loss for the Wildcats to drop to 1-3, while McGuire earned the win for UD to improve to 3-0.
At the plate for Villanova, Pizzini went three-for-four with a single, double, and triple. He is now batting .500 for the season (23-for-46). Also recording two hits for the `Cats were Hearne (2-for-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Matt Longo (2-for-5, 1 RBI), Nick Piantek (2-for-3, 1 run) and John Picone (2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI).
For Delaware, Harden went three-for-four with three RBI, while Chris Kolodzey went two-for-three with two runs and three RBI.
Villanova will open up Big East play this weekend hosting the Pittsburgh Panthers for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 18, beginning at noon, and a single game on Sunday at noon.
