April 25, 2001

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, PA - On Wednesday, April 25, at Richie Ashburn Field in Philadelphia, Villanova freshman right-hander Dan Farino and freshman shortstop Brian Trotta posted the finest games of their young careers, helping the Wildcat baseball team to a 3-0 blanking of Rider University. Farino threw seven shutout innings to get the victory, and Trotta hit his first collegiate home run and drove in two of the team's three runs as Villanova broke a five-game losing skid. The Wildcats improve to 19-22-1 with Wednesday's victory, while the Broncs fell to 18-20.

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the third inning, sophomore right fielder Brian Newbold led off the inning with a double to left center. After catcher Marshall Canosa sacrificed Newbold to third base, Trotta followed with a two-run home run to left field to give Villanova a 2-0 advantage.

On the flip side, Farino was shutting down the Rider hitters to keep the Broncs in check. He allowed just four hits and one walk in seven innings.

Still clinging to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Wildcats added an insurance run. First baseman Rob Cafiero started it off with a one-out single down the left field line. Sophomore designated hitter Ryan Crammer knocked in Cafiero with a double to left field to increase Villanova's lead to 3-0.

Relieving Farino in the eighth, sophomore James Russell pitched two scoreless innings to pick up his first collegiate save. Russell's save helped Farino get his second victory of the season to improve to 2-3.

Taking the loss on the mound for Rider was starter Artie McShane. McShane (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits in three innings, walking one and striking out two.

At the plate for Villanova, Trotta finished the day two-for-three with a double, a home run, one run scored and two RBI.

The Wildcats will next play on Thursday, April 26, hosting Drexel at 3:30 p.m. at Richie Ashburn Field in Philadelphia.