May 18, 2002

Box Score

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - Third baseman Brendan Mannix went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs as the Villanova baseball team edged Seton Hall, 7-6, in the season finale for both teams on Saturday at Owen T. Carroll Field. The Wildcats finish the season with a record of 30-23 overall and 12-13 in the BIG EAST. Seton Hall wrapped up its season with a 25-28 overall record and an 11-15 mark in conference play.

Trailing 3-2, Villanova used a four-run seventh inning to take control. Shortstop Brian Trotta singled and second baseman Brendan Trainor drew a walk to open the inning. Two batters later, right fielder Brian Hearne singled through the right side of the infield, driving in Trotta with the tying run. With two out, Mannix delivered a two-run single to left to give the Wildcats the lead. He then scored on a single by designated hitter Adrian Schau to put Villanova up 6-3.

Left fielder Brian Newbold, who led off the eighth inning with a walk, scored a key insurance run on a two-out wild pitch to give Villanova a 7-3 lead.

Seton Hall got one run back in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman Tim Pahuta drove in senior first baseman Todd Crawford with a two-out pinch-hit double. Freshman right fielder Ed McDonnell and Crawford added RBI singles in the bottom of the ninth to pull the Pirates within 7-6.

Villanova right-hander Tom Kandybowicz picked up the win to improve to 4-4. He gave up four runs on six hits in 7.1 innings. Reliever James Russell pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn his 15th save.

Seton Hall was paced by freshman left fielder Mike Cust who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in. McDonnell and sophomore designated hitter Pat Barlow also went 2-for-3.

Schau and first baseman Rob Cafiero both went 2-for-4 and drove in a run for Villanova.