April 6, 2000

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, PA.--- Traveling to Drexel University on Thursday, April 6, the Villanova baseball team lost to the Dragons, 9-5, marking the first loss by the Wildcats to Drexel since the 1993 season. With its fifth consecutive loss, Villanova's record falls to 12-15 overall on the season. The Dragons record improves to 10-15 on the year with Thursday's win.

The Drexel offense got on track early, scoring four times in the first inning, twice in the second and once in the third to claim a 7-2 lead after three innings of play. Left fielder Bruce Boehm and third baseman Ryan Lucas each hit RBI-triples in the first innings for the Dragons.

The Wildcats cut into the Drexel lead in the fourth, as left fielder Matt Blaney got Villanova started with a solo home run off of Dragon starter Josh Zumbach. Sophomore Rob Cafiero pinch hit later on in the inning, and sent a RBI-single into centerfield to trim the Drexel advantage to 7-4.

The game would stay that way until the seventh, when Dragons' right fielder Josh Yocum increased the Drexel advantage to 8-4 with a RBI single. The Wildcats fought back with two runs of their own in the eighth inning, as Cafiero struck again with another single that plated Chris Watson and Blaney to cut the lead to 8-6.

Drexel added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning, as shortstop Greg Mellott stole third and went home on an error by Villanova catcher Dan Glover. In the ninth, Dragon reliever Kevin Kulick struck out the side to seal to win for Drexel.

Zumbach earned his first win of the season for Drexel to improve to 1-2, whole Wildcat pitcher Drew Kirchner (2-5) got the loss.

Villanova will resume Big East play this weekend, traveling to Seton Hall on Saturday, April 8, for a doubleheader against the Pirates at noon. The two teams will meet again on Sunday, for a single game at noon.