March 19, 2008
Box Score
NORRISTOWN, Pa. - A pair of runs in both the sixth and eighth innings allowed Saint Joseph's (7-10) to first tie the score and then take its only lead of the game and Villanova (7-9) was defeated 7-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Latshaw-McCarthy Field. The Wildcats ended an eight-game winning streak against their nearby rivals and lost to the Hawks for the first time since April 23, 2003.
Senior James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI and junior Joe Rosati (Havertown, Pa.) had two hits for Villanova. Senior Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) came in off the bench and reached base in all three of his plate appearances, going 1-for-1 with a walk and hit by pitch.
The Wildcats scored three times in the top of the first inning when Rosati walked with one out, took third on a double by senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) and scored on Dolbier's single to left field. Both Shunk and Dolbier eventually scored on a throwing error and a sacrifice fly by junior Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.), respectively.
Saint Joseph's responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first and the teams remained close the rest of the way. Villanova stretched its lead to 4-2 on Dolbier's third home run of the year - a solo shot - in the top of the third and both teams plated a single run in the fourth inning to make the score 5-3.
After knocking out Hawk starter Pat Monaghan in just four innings, the Wildcats came up empty in five straight innings against the Saint Joseph's bullpen. Chris Prescott wound up the winning pitcher for the Hawks after working two scoreless innings and striking out four in the eighth and ninth.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, David Valesente doubled off Villanova redshirt freshman Chris Pack (Hinsdale, Ill.) to get within 5-4 and then scored when Jeremy Jakubowski singled off of senior reliever Ryan Wendler (Conshohocken, Pa.).
Both teams had run-scoring chances in their respective halves of the eighth inning and the Hawks scored the decisive runs to go on and win the game. In the top half, the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out but Prescott struck out senior Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and McFolling to end the inning.
A pair of walks started the bottom of the eighth inning and Saint Joseph's advanced both runners into scoring position on Jakubowski's successful sacrifice. Joe Cook followed with a two-run single down the right field line to give the Hawks the lead and Prescott finished off Villanova with two more strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning.
Senior Gus Guida (Martinsville, N.J.) took the loss on the short end of the game for the Wildcats, while Prescott earned his first decision of the season with the win.
In a week shortened by the upcoming Easter holiday, Villanova will open BIG EAST Conference play against Seton Hall with a three-game road series. The teams play a doubleheader starting at Noon on Thursday and a single game beginning at Noon on Saturday. All three games are scheduled to be nine-inning contests.
Senior Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and sophomore Brian Streilein (Staten Island, N.Y.) will start in the doubleheader on Thursday and sophomore Kevin Crimmel (Harrisburg, Pa.) is listed as the possible starter for Saturday's series finale.
NOTES: The Wildcats had won two games against the Hawks each year from 2004-07 ... Even with today's loss, Villanova is 55-28-1 (.661) against teams from the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey since the beginning of the 2004 season ... Dolbier has driven in 11 runs in his last six games ... For the season he leads the team with a .674 slugging percentage and is tied for the team lead with 16 RBI ... Wendler has not allowed a run in 6.0 innings of work in his last four appearances, all coming out of the bullpen.
