March 6, 2001
Box Score
VILLANOVA, PA-- On Tuesday, March 6, at Florida International's University Park, the Villanova University baseball team used a 17-hit attack to defeat St. Bonaventure, 18-10. Seniors Dan Glover and Nick Piantek led the Wildcat charge with four RBI apiece, to help Villanova improve to 3-1 overall on the season.
Senior left fielder Dave Pizzini got the `Cats going with one out in the first inning, singling and stealing second base. Following a walk by senior second baseman Matt Longo, junior first baseman Rob Cafiero singled through the left side to score Pizzini with the game's first run. One batter later, Piantek hit a bloop double to center field to score Longo and increase the Villanova lead to 2-0. The Wildcats would plate one more in the inning on a RBI single by junior right fielder Mike Houser to claim a 3-0 lead after one inning.
Leading 3-1 going into the bottom of the third, Piantek tallied his second RBI of the contest via a sacrifice fly. Highlighting a five-run third inning for Villanova was Glover, who lined a single up the middle to score two more Wildcats. Before the inning was over, Villanova pushed a total of five runs across the plate to take a commanding 8-1 advantage.
Taking a 9-4 lead into the fifth inning, the `Cats would put the game out of reach with seven more runs. Glover got the frame started right by blasting a solo home run over the right centerfield fence. Later in the inning, Piantek singled home two more runs to spark a seven-run fifth inning giving Villanova a 16-4 lead.
In the ninth inning, the Bonnies took advantage of five walks and a couple of wild pitches by the Wildcat pitching staff to score six runs. The Villanova offense had put the game away at that point, however, as the `Cats went on for the 18-10 victory.
Center fielder Chris Graziano caused havoc for St. Bonaventure on the base-paths, going three-for-five with four stolen bases. Houser posted three hits for Villanova as well, registering a perfect three-for-three day with two RBI. Glover and Piantek each knocked in four runs, with Glover going two-for-four with a home run, and Piantek going two-for-three with a double. Also having big days for the Wildcats were Cafiero who went two-for-three with an RBI and three runs scored, and Longo who went one-for-two with three walks and four runs scored.
Getting his first collegiate win was sophomore pitcher John Yeager. Yeager pitched six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits, striking out four and walking three. Taking the loss for the Bonnies was John Brewer, who surrendered three runs on four hits in one and two-thirds innings. Mike Rapicioli led St. Bonaventure at the plate, going two-for-five with two runs scored and two RBI.
