May 10, 2000

Box Score

Cheltenham, PA.--- On Wednesday, May 10, in Cheltenham, Pa., the Villanova baseball team stumbled against Temple University, losing 5-4 in a game called after five and a half innings due to rain. The loss dropped the Wildcats' overall record to 24-23 on the year, while the Owls improve to 22-26-3.

Villanova opened up the scoring in the top of the second inning, assisted by several Temple miscues. Right fielder Brian Hearne started the scoring spree with a one-out walk. Shortstop Brendan Mannix followed with a ground ball to second base which was botched by second baseman Jim Tully, allowing Hearne to reach second. After a strikeout by catcher Dan Glover, Ryan Crammer reached base on a walk to load the bases with two outs. Centerfielder Chris Watson continued the marathon, walking in the Wildcats' first run of the game. Villanova increased its lead to 2-0, as left fielder Dave Pizzini earned a base on balls to force in Mannix. Before the inning was over, the Wildcats would score twice more as second baseman Matt Longo registered a two-RBI single, to give Villanova a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, the Owls finally got on the scoreboard. Outfielder Kyle Sweppenhiser led the inning off with a double, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Jeff Roma to cut the Wildcat lead to 4-1.

One inning later, Temple continued its rally. After third baseman Mike Jenkins scored on Glover's throw to second on a stolen base attempt by Cap Poklemba, center fielder Bob Filler knocked home the Owls' second run of the inning on an RBI double. An unearned run by Filler on a error by Longo allowed Temple to tie the game at 4-4 after three innings of play.

In the bottom of the fourth, a Wildcat error led to yet another unearned run for Temple, as the Owls took their first lead of the game at 5-4. Villanova's luck would run out, as bad weather around in the fifth. The game would resume after a short delay, but would end one inning later as torrential rain began to fall.

Starter Drew Kirchner (2-6) took the loss for Villanova, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits in three and two thirds innings. Matt Therien came on in the fourth and pitched one and a third solid innings of relief, but it was not enough as the rain washed away any further hope for a Villanova rally.

Temple reliever David Meyer pitched four innings of shutout baseball to get the victory. Improving to 3-1 on the year, Meyer allowed just one hit in four innings, striking out one and walking four. Jeff Rugg pitched the final one third of the sixth inning to earn his second save.

The Wildcats will wind down the regular season on May 12-13. Villanova will travel to Morgantown, W.V. to face the Mountaineers. The two teams will play a double header on Friday, with games at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and a single game on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.