March 28, 2001
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, PA- On Wednesday, March 28 at Richie Ashburn Field in Philadelphia, the Villanova University baseball team fell to Temple University, 10-2, as the Wildcats hurt themselves with six errors and nine walks by their pitching staff. Villanova fell to 9-11-1 overall on the season with the loss, while the Owls improved to 5-15 with their fourth consecutive win.
The Wildcats notched one run in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. With one out in the inning, second baseman Matt Longo walked and scored on a double to right by designated hitter Nick Piantek.
In the top of the second inning, three Villanova walks and one error led to four unearned runs by Temple off of Wildcat starter Dan Farino to take a 4-1 lead. Third baseman Kyle Sweppenhiser highlighted the inning for the Owls with a two-run single, while first baseman Robert Cucinotta added a RBI single.
Temple added to its advantage in the top of the third, scoring two more times without a hit. Two walks and an error by Villanova pitcher Scott Ward loaded the bases with no outs. Second baseman Jim Tully and Sweppenhiser each knocked in runs with sacrifice flies as the Owls took a commanding 6-1 lead. With one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings and two runs in the eighth inning, Temple pulled away for a 10-2 victory.
Farino (1-3) took the loss for the Wildcats, giving up four runs on three hits and three walks in one and two-thirds innings. None of the four runs scored against Farino were earned, as Villanova's defensive woes led to each run.
Mike Caron (1-3) pitched well for the Owls to earn his first victory of the season. Caron pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out five and walking four.
Piantek had two hits for the Wildcats in the loss, going two-for-four with two doubles and one RBI. He is now leading the team in batting (.361), doubles (8), home runs (3) and RBI (22). Longo went one-for-two with two runs scored for Villanova in Wednesday's loss.
Leading Temple was Cucinotta who went three-for-five with an RBI, and Sweppenhiser who went two-for-five with a game-high three RBI.
Villanova will get back into action this weekend, hosting St. John's in a three-game Big East series. The Wildcats will play a doubleheader versus St. John's on Saturday, March 31, at 12:00 p.m., and a single game on Sunday, April 1, at 12:00 p.m.
