March 29, 2000
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, PA.--- On Wednesday, March 29, at Richie Ashburn Field in Philadelphia, the Villanova baseball team tied its season-high in scoring with 16 runs, to roll to a 16-10 victory over the visiting Temple University Owls. The Wildcats' win improves their season record to 12-10, and places head coach George Bennett just six victories shy of the 500 mark for his career. Temple drops to 7-12-1 overall on the season with the Wednesday's loss.
After the Owls scored one run in the top of the first off of Villanova starter Will Henry, the Wildcats came out firing in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Chris Graziano started off the frame with a walk and would later steal second. Left fielder Dave Pizzini followed with a single, moving Graziano to third. With one out after a pop out by second baseman Matt Longo, first baseman Rob Cafiero walked to load the bases for Villanova. Designated hitter Nick Piantek started the Wildcats' scoring with a RBI single. Catcher Dan Glover followed two batters later with a RBI single of his own to make the score 2-1. Holding a 5-1 advantage later in the inning, Pizzini tallied his second hit of the inning on a grand slam over the right field fence. Pizzini's second home run of the season gave Villanova a 9-1 lead.
In the top half of the third inning, Temple staged a rally to cut the margin to three. First baseman Rob Cucinotta posted an RBI single to trim the lead to 9-2, and third baseman Sam Sabolchick hit the game's second grand slam to pull the Owls with three runs at 9-6.
The Wildcat offense proved to be too strong, scoring three runs in the fourth and two each in the sixth and seventh to go on for a 16-10 win. Freshman third baseman Michael Duncan keyed the Villanova attack with two-RBI singles in both the fourth and sixth innings.
Getting the victory on the mound for the Wildcats was reliever Matt Therien, who improves to 1-0 on the year. Therien pitched two scoreless innings for Villanova, striking out three and allowing just one hit. Starter Mike Caron took the loss for Temple, giving up five hits and seven runs in just two-thirds of an inning.
At the plate for the Wildcats, Pizzini improved his average to .417 on the season with a four-for-five afternoon. He ended the day with three runs scored and four RBI as well. Duncan recorded the finest game thus far in his Main Line career, going three-for-four with one run scored and a game-high five RBI. Sophomore first baseman Mike Houser, who came on as a defensive replacement in the seventh, hit his first career home run. Houser's two-run shot wound down the Villanova scoring in the seventh.
The Wildcats will resume Big East play on Saturday, April 1, hosting the Boston College Eagles for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. The two teams will also meet again on Sunday, for a single game starting at noon.
