March 2, 2008

Box Score

BRADENTON, Fla. - A late comeback attempt fell short in the late innings as Villanova (1-6) was defeated 8-5 by Fairfield (1-3) on Sunday afternoon at Academy Park. The Wildcats nearly rallied from a seven-run deficit in the sixth inning but were unable to come all the way back.

Senior James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) and freshman Dain Hall (Barrington, Ill.) each had run-scoring hits in the sixth and eighth innings and freshman David Koczirka (Thornton, Pa.) hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth to bring Villanova to within 7-5.

Dolbier finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs scored and Hall was 3-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases. Seniors Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) each had two hits and a run scored.

The Wildcats fell behind 7-0 in the sixth inning after the Stags scored three runs in the second inning, one in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Villanova registered seven of its 12 hits in the final four innings to get back into the mix before Fairfield shut the door in the bottom of the ninth.

Redshirt freshman Chris Pack (Hinsdale, Ill.) scattered seven hits over 5 1/3 innings and struck out eight while walking three. He was charged with four earned runs among five given up in the game, including one run that scored after he left the game.

Albie Desimone had two hits and three runs batted in for the Stags, who had 14 hits. Mike Weiner had an RBI double in the second inning and Tucker Nathans and Desimone delivered run-scoring singles off of Pack, who had struck out the side in the first inning.

Pack cruised through the third and fourth innings but ran into trouble in the fifth when a dropped fly ball gave Fairfield a runner on second to start the inning. Matt Tiagwad followed with a double to score the run. The Stags made their rally in the sixth inning when four straight hitters reached safely after an out to start the inning.

The Wildcats appeared to have their offense back in form in the late innings and Hall's single with one out in the eighth made the score 7-4 and left runners at the corners. Koczirka chipped in with his sacrifice fly to add another run but Fairfield reliever Dan Urbanovitch escaped further trouble.

Robert Gariano earned the win for the Stags, allowing two earned runs on seven hits in six innings.

Villanova will be off on Monday before returning to action against Bowling Green at 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Academy Park.