March 8, 2001
Box Score
BOCA RATON, FLA-On Thursday, March 8 at FAU University in Boca Raton, Fla., the Villanova University baseball team rallied from a 6-4 eighth inning deficit to defeat Monmouth University, 8-7. With the victory, the Wildcats went over the .500 mark for the season at 4-3.
Villanova scored two runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Center fielder Chris Graziano singled to begin the inning and scored one batter later when left fielder Dave Pizzini doubled to left centerfield. Designated hitter Nick Piantek followed with a single to left field scoring Pizzini to give the `Cats a 2-0 advantage.
Monmouth answered with one run in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout by third baseman Lance Koenig to pull within 2-1. One inning later, the Hawks' offense exploded for three runs off of Wildcat starter Bob Grzenda to take their first lead of the ballgame at 4-2. Koenig once again sparked the Monmouth surge with a two-RBI single through the left side.
Down 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning, Villanova tied up the contest at 4-4 as freshman shortstop Brian Trotta and Graziano each recorded RBI singles.
In the bottom of the seventh, Monmouth took advantage of some Wildcat miscues. The Hawks loaded the bases with two walks and an intentional walk off of Villanova reliever Mark Rocca. Shortstop Mike Kelly knocked in the go-ahead run, reaching first base on a groundball to third base. With runners on first and third, Kelly stole second base. The throw by Wildcat catcher Dan Glover sailed into center field allowing right fielder Jay Law to score to increase Monmouth's lead to 6-4.
Villanova began the top of the eighth with a single to left by third baseman Mike Duncan and an infield single off of Monmouth pitcher Mike Benfield's chest to place runners at first and second with no outs. After Duncan advanced to third on an errant throw by Benfield, Trotta grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to score Duncan and pull the `Cats within 6-5. The tying run would be manufactured solely by Graziano, who got on base via a bunt single to third. He stole second base to put the tying run in scorers position with two outs. Graziano was not done there, however, as he stole third base and scored on a throwing error by Hawk catcher Matt Clark to tie the game at 6-6.
The Wildcats continued their rally in the ninth with the score still tied at 6-6. With two outs and the bases loaded, Trotta continued his timely hitting, by finding a hole in the left side and singling home Brian Hearne and Matt Longo with Villanova's seventh and eighth runs of the game.
Monmouth tried to stage a ninth inning rally of its own to pull out a victory. With two runners on base, Hearne came on to close out the game for the Wildcats. Following a walk to load the bases, he struck out pinch hitter Andrew Chiappano looking for the second out. Hawk second baseman Ian Magley walked in a run on 3-2 count to close the gap to 8-7. Hearne was able to seal the Villanova victory by getting center fielder Greg Landis to ground out to first for the final out of the game sending the `Cats home with the 8-7 win.
Graziano and Trotta were the offensive stars of the game for Villanova, as they each tallied three hits. Graziano went three-for-six with two runs scored, two stolen bases and one RBI, while Trotta went three-for-five with three RBI.
John Yeager earned the win for the Wildcats, pitching one and one-third innings of relief to improve to 2-0. Hearne earned his first save of the season, closing out the final two-thirds of an inning for the `Cats.
Villanova will wind down its spring trip on Friday, March 9, playing Monmouth in Boca Raton, Fla., at 10:00 a.m.
