VILLANOVA, Pa.—It was 17 years ago today that the baseball program moved into its new home at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. On March 23, 2003, the Wildcats gave their new digs a fitting inauguration with a 3-2 victory in 13 innings over No. 19 Notre Dame in what was also the BIG EAST opener for both teams. Danny Poydenis singled off the third base bag with two outs in the bottom of the 13
th inning to drive in Ryan Crammer with the game-winning run.
Below is the original game story from the inaugural game.
VILLANOVA OPENS NEW BALLPARK WITH 13-INNING WIN OVER NO. 19 NOTRE DAME
Originally posted on March 23, 2003 | Written by Jonathan Gust
PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA. - In a game ESPN would have undoubtedly deemed an instant classic, the Villanova Wildcat baseball team celebrated its first-ever game at the new Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth with a 13-inning 3-2 victory over the 19th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday, March 23rd. Junior Danny Poydenis won the game for the `Cats in the bottom of the 13th with a two-out single off the third base bag to score senior Ryan Crammer with the game-winning run. With the win, Villanova's fourth in a row, the Wildcats improved their record to 5-8 overall on the season. The Irish fell to 9-6 on the year with the loss.
Villanova took advantage of some clutch two-out hitting to open up the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Junior shortstop Brian Trotta followed up a single by rightfielder Alan Day by lining a double down the right-field line to advance Day to third base. Sophomore second baseman Mark Cardillo gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game, singling through the right side to plate both runners and give Villanova a 2-0 advantage.
Ryan Crammer crosses the plate with the game-winning run on March 23, 2003 as Villanova defeated No. 19 Notre Dame, 3-2 in 13 innings, in the inaugural game played at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth.
After cruising through the first two innings with three strikeouts and without surrendering a hit, Wildcat starter Tom Kandybowicz ran into some trouble in the top of the third. Irish designated hitter Cody Rizzo led the inning off with a double for Notre Dame. With one out, second baseman Steve Sollman singled through the left side to move Rizzo to third base. The Irish finally got on the scoreboard on an RBI groundout by centerfielder Brennan Grogan, but Kandybowicz ended any further scoring threat by getting Matt Edwards to fly out to leftfield to end the inning with the `Cats still in front 2-1.
With the score 2-1 after the first three innings, Kandybowicz and Irish starter Chris Niesel took control. Each blanked the opposition through the next three innings, to send the game into the seventh and final inning with the Wildcats leading 2-1.
With Rizzo standing at second base with one out in the top of the seventh, Adrian Schau came on in relief of Kandybowicz. Following a walk to Sollman, Grogan singled to left field off of Schau to tie the game at 2-2. Schau struck out Edwards for the second out of the inning and after an intentional walk to rightfielder Kris Billmaier to load the bases, got Irish catcher Javi Sanchez to fly to center to end the threat.
The Villanova and Notre Dame bullpens game through big in extra innings, ending several potential game-ending scoring opportunities.
In the bottom of the 11th, the Wildcats had Trotta at second base with two outs looking to pull off the upset victory. Poydenis came up to the plate and singled through the left side, but Irish leftfielder Craig Cooper threw a bullet to the plate to get Trotta for the final out of the inning.
Notre Dame started the 13th inning off strong as first baseman Joe Thaman led the inning off with a triple to right-center field. Villanova reliever Dan Farino followed that up by striking out Sollman for the first out of the inning. Farino got the next batter, Grogan, to line an 0-1 pitch towards short. Trotta leaped to make the catch and threw to third to get Thaman and complete the inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the 13th inning, the luck finally ran out on the Irish. Crammer singled to right with one out to put the go-ahead run on base. Crammer advanced to second on a passed ball one batter later to move into scoring position. With one out in the inning, Irish reliever J.P. Gagne intentionally walked Graziano. The second passed ball of the inning by Notre Dame put Graziano and Crammer at second and third base and gave Poydenis the chance to win it for the `Cats. Poydenis took advantage, hitting a hard grounder off the third base bag to score Crammer with the game-winner.
Farino (1-1) got the win on the mound for the Wildcats, throwing two scoreless inning of relief. Kandybowicz started the game for Villanova and allowed just two runs on six hits in six and one-third inning, striking out seven and walking one. Schau came on in the seventh inning and pitched the next four and one-third scoreless innings of relief. Junior left-hander Mike Ciccotelli pitched one-third of an inning for the `Cats, coming on in the 11th with two on and two outs to end an Irish scoring threat.
Niesel started for Notre Dame but did not factor in the decision. He allowed two runs on five hits in seven and one-third innings, striking out a game-high 11. Gagne (2-3) took the loss, surrendering one run on six hits in five and a third innings, striking out four and walking two.
At the plate for Villanova, Poydenis went two-for-six with the game-winning hit and RBI, Trotta went three-for-five with two doubles, and Cardillo went one-for-two with two RBI.
