March 5, 2002
Box Score
HOMESTEAD, FL. - On Tuesday morning in Homestead, Fla., the Villanova baseball team rode yet another outstanding pitching performance from junior right-hander John Yeager en route to a 3-2 victory over Fairfield. The Wildcats' win improved their season record to 4-6 overall. The Stags fell to 1-3 on the season with the loss.
Yeager and Fairfield starter Pablo Tamayo controlled the early stages of the contest as the game went scoreless into the fourth inning. Yeager struck out four Stag hitters in the first three innings of the game.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Villanova offense got in gear by scoring two runs to claim a 2-0 lead. First baseman Rob Cafiero walked to start the frame and moved on to second on a single by left fielder Adrian Schau. A sacrifice bunt by Dustin Downs moved runners to second and third with one out. After Tamayo struck out Ryan Crammer for the second out of the inning, freshman right fielder Matt Derr broke the scoreless tie with two-run single through the left side.
The `Cats added to their lead in the top of the eighth inning, as Schau hammered a Tamayo fastball over the left field wall for a solo home run. The home run was Schau's third of the season, and gave Villanova a 3-0 lead.
Yeager kept Fairfield off balance through the middle innings, allowing only one hit between the fourth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Stags took advance of several Wildcat miscues. Antuan Barnett singled to center field to lead off the eighth, and advanced two bases on an error by Villanova center fielder Chris Graziano. Designated hitter Tim Sheehan followed Barnett with a grounder to shortstop which Wildcat shortstop Brian Trotta misplayed, allowing pinch runner John Barone to score and trim the Villanova advantage to 3-1.
Yeager got the first two outs of the ninth inning, before the Stag offense put together back-to-back hits. With runners on first and second and two outs, junior James Russell came on to attempt to close the game for the `Cats. Greg Battista singled to shortstop off of Russell and an error by Trotta allowed Ryan Bittner to score and cut the Villanova lead to one run at 3-2. Russell made sure that Fairfield would get no closer as he got Sheehan to ground out to first to end the game. The save was Russell's second of the season.
Yeager picked up his second win of the season to improve his record to 2-1. He pitched eight and two-thirds innings for the Wildcats, allowing two unearned runs on six hits, striking out six without walking a batter. Tamayo took the loss for the Stags to fall to 0-2 on the season.
At the plate for Villanova, Schau went two-for-four with a home run and one RBI. Derr went one-for-two with a walk and a game-high two RBI.
The Wildcats will get back into action on Wednesday, March 6, playing Holy Cross at 2:15 p.m.
