Feb. 26, 2002
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, PA. - On Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Hank DeVincent Field in Philadelphia, the Villanova baseball team scored two runs in the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie and go on to a 8-6 victory over La Salle. The Wildcats improve to 3-5 overall on the season with the victory. The Explorers fall to 1-2 on the year with the loss.
In the top of the first inning, senior first baseman Rob Cafiero crushed a Jim Fuchs pitch over the fence in left field to give Villanova a 1-0 lead. The home run was Cafiero's third home run on the season.
La Salle tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning. Center fielder Steve Harris walked to begin the inning and stole second to move into scoring position. Left fielder Eric Ross followed with a double to right-center field off of Wildcat starter Dan Farino to score Harris with the Explorers first run of the contest.
La Salle took its first lead of the ball game in the second inning. Catcher Mike Kelly was hit by a pitch and advanced to second one batter later on a groundout by Ryan Parfitt. After advancing to third on another groundout, Kelly scored on a single to left by Mike Kelly to give the Explorers a 2-1 lead.
The Villanova offense broke out in the top of the third inning. Center fielder Chris Graziano singled to left field to start the rally and advanced two bases on a throwing error by Fuchs off a pick-off attempt. Junior Dustin Downs lofted a sac fly to center to score Graziano with the tying run. The `Cats regained the lead on a line-drive solo home run to left field by designated hitter Adrian Schau. Before the inning was over, the Wildcats added one more run on a RBI double off the bat of freshman Matt Derr to take a 4-2 advantage. The hit and RBI were the first of Derr's collegiate career.
La Salle evened the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run double by second baseman John Snyder.
In what was a back-and-forth battle between two cross-city rivals, Villanova again reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Derr walked with the bases loaded to post his second RBI of the contest and pinch hitter Ryan Crammer added a RBI groundout to give the Wildcats a 6-4 advantage.
The Explorers scored one run in the fifth and continued their rally in the bottom of the seventh. With runners at first and third and two outs, Villanova freshman left-hander James Baxter was called for a balk forcing in Brian Oakes with the tying run.
Tied at 6-6 in the top of the eighth inning, Villanova looked to take control of the game. The Wildcats put runners at second and third with one out and third baseman Brendan Trainor coming to the plate. Trainor hit a sacrifice fly to center field off of La Salle reliever Anthony Boscaglia to score Cafiero with the go-ahead run. Villanova extended its lead to two runs on a RBI single by Derr to give the `Cats an 8-6 advantage after seven and a half innings.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, junior right-handed James Russell came on to seal the deal for Villanova. Russell struck out two batters on the way to earn his first save of the season. Baxter picked up his first collegiate win.
The game was called after eight innings due to darkness.
Taking the loss for the Explorers was Jarrod Ringer, who allowed two runs in three and one-third innings.
At the plate for the Wildcats, several players registered standout performances. Schau went three-for-three with a home run, three runs scored, and one RBI, while Cafiero went two-for-three with a home run three runs scored and one RBI and Derr went two-for-three with a game-high three RBI.
Villanova will get back into action on Monday, March 4, taking on Duquesne at 10:15 a.m., in the Wildcats' first game of the Homestead Challenge in Homestead, Fla.
