April 20, 2000
Box Score
STORRS, CT.--- On Thursday, April 20, at J.O. Christian Field in Storrs, Conn., the Villanova baseball team was swept by the University of Connecticut in a doubleheader, losing by the scores of 2-1 in 10 innings in game one, and 3-2 in game two. The Wildcats fall to 20-19 overall and 7-10 in the Big East with the two losses, while the Huskies improve to 21-14 and 9-8.
Game one was a pitchers dual between dualing left-handers Aaron Krawiec of Villanova and Jesse Carlson of Connecticut. The contest went scoreless until the fourth inning, when the Wildcats scored one run on an RBI single to right center by third baseman Brendan Mannix to take a 1-0 lead.
On the other end, Krawiec was keeping Husky hitters off balance. He struck out five batters and allowed only two hits through the first five innings. In the sixth, Connecticut finally got on the scoreboard. With one out in the inning, third baseman Kevin Wissner doubled down the right field line. First baseman Brian Packin followed with an infield single, advancing Wissner to third. The next batter, designated hitter Ryan Treat, followed hit a grounder to the mound. Krawiec threw to second base for the first out, but the throw to first by second baseman Matt Longo was not in time and Wissner scored to tie the game at 1-1.
With both teams unable to score through seven full, the game went into extra innings tied at 1-1. In the bottom of the tenth, left fielder Gary Dunn singled to left to lead off the inning for the Huskies. Dunn advanced to second one batter later on a groundout by Wissner. After a fly out by first baseman Rick Belmonte for the first out, designated hitter Jonathan Gorrie singled to left to score Dunn with the game-winning run as Connecticut took a 2-1 victory.
Reliever Brian Manning (1-3) took the loss for the Wildcats, working the final one and two-thirds innings. Husky relief pitcher Robert Barton pitched one scoreless inning for the win to improve to 3-1. Krawiec was superb on the mound for `Nova, despite getting a no-decision. In eight innings, he allowed just one run on six hits and four walks, while striking out eight.
In game two, the Wildcat offense got an early start off of Uconn starting pitcher Chris DeBrisco. Freshman center fielder Chris Graziano reached on an infield single to lead off the inning, and advanced to second on a single by left fielder Dave Pizzini. With one out and runners at second and third, first baseman Rob Cafiero hit a sac fly to deep centerfield to score Graziano with the first run of the game. After a RBI-single by designated hitter Mike Houser, the Wildcats had a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.
The game would remain that way until the bottom of the fourth. Cy Hess led off the inning for Connecticut with a double. First baseman Rick Belmont followed with a single to left field, and an error by Pizzini allowed Hess to score to cut the lead to 2-1. Belmonte would later score on an error by shortstop Brendan Trainor to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Huskies took their first lead of the game at 2-1. Wissner singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on an error by pitcher Brian Slocum. With the bases loaded and one out, Brian Tisbert hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Wissner with the go-ahead run.
With the tying run on first for the Wildcats in the ninth, Connecticut starter Chris DeBrisco shut down Villanova for the final three outs to seal the doubleheader sweep for the Huskies.
The Wildcats will resume play on Saturday, April 22, traveling to Rutgers for a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m.
