March 3, 2000

Box Score

Homestead, Fla.--- In the final game of its spring trip to Florida on Friday, March 3, the Villanova baseball team lit up St. Bonaventure pitchers for 16 runs on 19 hits, en route to a 16-11 victory. With the win, the Wildcats end their week long trip in Florida with a 3-4 mark, to improve their season mark to 3-5. The Bonnies fall to 3-1 overall with the loss.

The Villanova offense got started early, breaking out with eight runs in the top of the first inning off St Bonaventure starter Jim Wolf. Rightfielder Matt Blaney led off the game with a double and was followed one batter later by a single by leftfielder Dave Pizzini. After a walk to third baseman Matt Longo to load the bases, sophomore first baseman Rob Cafiero reached on a fielders choice to score Blaney with the first run of the game.

With the score standing at 2-0 in the first and the bases still juiced, senior centerfielder Chris Watson hit and RBI single and was followed two batters later by Brendan Trainor knocked home two more with a single of his own. Blaney's second double scored two more, and an RBI single by Pizzini plated another, as the Wildcats ended the inning with an 8-0 lead.

In the third, back-to-back doubles by Longo and Cafiero gave Villanova an 11-3 advantage. Up 11-4 in the fourth, the `Cats added to their lead with three more runs. Blany and Longo each had RBI's in the inning for Villanova, who took a 14-5 lead.

With the Wildcats up 16-6 entering the ninth, the Bonnies scored six runs to get within 16-11. That was as close as they would come, however, as Grzenda got the final two outs to preserve the five-run Villanova victory.

Getting the win for the `Cats was freshman Brian Slocum, who battled through five inning. Posting his second win to improve to 2-0, Slocum gave up seven hits and four earned runs, striking out four and walking four. Fellow freshman Jon Grijalva came on in the sixth and pitched three and one-third strong innings.

Taking the loss for the Bonnies was Jim Wolf, who gave up eight runs in two innings of work.

Blaney had an outstanding day at the plate for Villanova, batting in the leadoff apot. He went two-for-four, scoring four runs, also posting three RBI, two doubles and a stolen base. Cafiero went two-for-five with three RBI, while Longo, Pizzini, Watson, Trainor and catcher Gregory Fater each tallied two hits.

The Wildcats ended their Florida trip with a 3-4 record. Villanova lost to No. 10 Miami, No. 23 FIU, but defeated the No. 25 ranked FAU Owls.