April 15, 2000

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, PA.--- Villanova head baseball coach George Bennett earned his 500th career coaching victory in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15, at Richie Ashburn Field, as his Wildcats swept Georgetown University by the scores of 10-5 and 6-2. Villanova improves to 18-17 overall and 6-8 in the Big East with its two victories on Saturday, while the Hoyas fall to 12-29 overall and 1-13 in conference play.

Bennett's 500th career coaching win comes just over one year after he recorded his 400th victory as head coach of Villanova. In the midst of his 19th season in the collegiate ranks, his career record currently stands at 500-338-8 (.596). Bennett came to Villanova in 1986 from St. Joseph's University, where he tallied a 68-53-3 record over four seasons. Now in his 15th season with the Wildcats, he has registered a 432-290-5 on the Main Line.

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Wildcats scored early and often en route to a 10-5 victory. Villanova scored in each of the first five innings, posting two in the first, three runs in both the second and third innings, and one each in the fourth and fifth. Up 3-1 in the second inning with leftfielder Dave Pizzini on second, first baseman Rob Cafiero blasted his third home run off the season to give the `Cats a 5-1 advantage.

Villanova coasted from there, getting home runs from second baseman Matt Longo and rightfielder Brian Hearne, on the way to a five-run victory. Pitcher Aaron Krawiec (4-3) got the win on the mound for the Wildcats, giving up five runs in seven innings, striking out eight and walking four. Starter Matt Arizin (1-8) took the loss for the Hoyas, allowing eight runs on seven hits in two and one-third innings.

At the plate for Villanova in game one, Cafiero went three-for-four with a double, home run and four RBI. Hearne and centerfielder Chris Watson each tallied two hits for the `Cats, as each went two-for-three with one RBI.

It was a pitcher's dual in game two early on, with Villanova's Brian Slocum and Georgetown's Jim Vankoski controlling the show. The scoreboard showed zeros through three and a half innings, before the Wildcats broke through in the fourth on an unearned run, as Watson scored on an error by Hoyas' catcher Pat Wade.

Two innings later, Villanova increased its lead to 2-0 on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Nick Piantek to score Watson. The Wildcats would put the game away in the eighth inning, as they scored four more runs behind RBI doubles from Longo and pinch hitter Mike Houser. When all was said and done, Villanova defeated Georgetown 6-2, and Bennett had his 500th victory.

Slocum (4-1) got the win for `Nova in game two, pitching eight innings and allowing just five hits and two runs (no earned runs), walking five and striking out four. Taking the loss for the Hoyas was reliever Tony Pina, who falls to 1-4.

The Wildcats and Hoyas will square off again on Sunday, in a single game beginning at 12:00 p.m.