Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Senior second baseman Todd Czinege (Overland Park, Kan.) had two hits and scored the only Villanova (12-26, 3-7 BIG EAST) run in the top of the second inning but host Butler (26-16, 3-7 BIG EAST) went on to a 4-1 victory in the opening game of a doubleheader at Bulldog Park on Saturday afternoon. The second game of the twin-bill was set to begin at 4:05 p.m.

Czinege, freshman first baseman Ryan Toohers (Florham Park, N.J.) and sophomore catcher Doug deMarrais (Bernardsville, N.J.) had two hits apiece for the Wildcats, who took a 1-0 lead in the second inning but later trailed from the third inning on. With his 13th multi-hit game of the season, Czinege moved into a tie for third place on Villanova's all-time hits list.

After the Wildcats were retired in order in the top of the first inning, Czinege worked a five-pitch walk to open the top half of the second. He stole second to get into scoring position with one out, and deMarrais hit a 1-0 pitch into left-center field with two outs to bring home the game's first run.

The first runs of the game for the Bulldogs came in the bottom of the third inning when Garrett Christman ââ'¬" the game two starting pitcher ââ'¬" hit a 2-2 pitch through the right side to score runners from second and third and give Butler a 2-1 lead. Michael DiViesti led off the inning with a walk, Zach Jarosz drew a one-out walk and DiViesti moved to third on a fly out to left by Tyler Houston. Jarosz then stole second ahead of Christman's two-run single.

Single runs in the bottom of the fourth and seventh innings extended the Bulldogs lead against Villanova sophomore starter Jonathan Rosero (Middle Village, N.Y.). Gehrig Parker led off the fourth inning with a single and scored with two outs as the leading runner on a double-steal attempt. Jarosz added an RBI groundout in the bottom of the seventh to close the scoring.

Rosero (1-4, 4.43 ERA) pitched effectively into the eighth inning in the latest of a string of strong outings. He scattered eight hits and the four earned runs while walking four and striking out three. He departed with one out and a runner at first in the bottom of the eighth inning, and sophomore reliever Zach Lutner (Sicklerville, N.J.) stranded the inherited runner to end the inning.

Czinege singled with one out in the top of the ninth inning against Butler reliever Ottavio Dattolo, and the Wildcats eventually brought the tying run to the plate. Czinege stole his second base of the game with two outs in the inning and Toohers singled through the right side to bring up deMarrais representing the tying run. Dattolo induced a fly to left for the final out of the game and earned his third save of the season.

Bulldogs starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot (4-2, 3.65) struck out 11 while giving up a run on five hits in the first eight innings.

Senior starting pitcher Hunter Schryver (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) started the second game of the doubleheader for Villanova.

NOTES: Czinege moved into a tie for third place in school history with 240 career hits ââ'¬Â¦ He is tied with Rob Cafiero (1999-02) and two hits shy of matching Matt Longo (1998-01) for second on the Wildcats all-time list.