March 2, 2001
Box Score
VILLANOVA, PA-- On Friday, March 2, the Villanova baseball team began the 2001 season on a high note by defeating Niagra, 6-2, in a game played at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla. Led by six shutout innings from sophomore pitcher Brian Slocum, the Wildcats improved to 1-0 on the season. The Purple Eagles fell to 1-3 overall on the season with the loss.
Villanova started off the scoring in the second inning. Senior Nick Piantek began the inning by tripling to left field. Following a groundout by Brian Hearne for the first out of the inning, junior third baseman Brendan Trainor singled home Piantek for the first run of the game. Trainor would later score on a wild pitch to give the `Cats an early 2-0 advantage.
The game would remain that way until the bottom of the fifth inning. Senior left fielder began the inning with a single to the shortstop. Fellow senior Matt Longo followed with his first home run of the season, a line-drive down the right field line, to increase the Villanova lead to 4-0. After first baseman Rob Cafiero scored on a wild pitch later in the inning, right fielder Brian Hearne singled in Piantek to give the `Cats a 6-0 lead.
Six runs would be enough for the Wildcats as Slocum put together a dominating performance on the mound, throwing six shutout innings. Slocum allowed just three hits and did not walk a batter, while striking out five. Sophomore John Yeager and senior Jason Petre each came out of the bullpen to pitch one shutout inning, striking out two batters apiece.
In the top of the ninth inning, Niagra was able to punch two runs across on three hits off of Villanova reliever James Russell. With the bases loaded and two outs, Russell was able to get pinch hitter Mark Pennline to ground out to second base for the final out of the game.
Four played recorded two hits apiece for the Wildcats- senior Dave Pizzini, Longo, Piantek and Hearne. The big offensive stars for Villanova were Longo who posted two hits including the game's only home run, and Piantek who went two-for-four with a double and a triple.
Taking the loss for the Purple Eagles was Chris Begg, who gave up five runs on nine hits in four-plus innings.
The Wildcats will resume play on Saturday, March 3, as they travel back to FAU to take on Albany at 4:00 p.m.
