April 18, 2008

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Just moments after rallying to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning, Villanova (17-19, 4-9 Big East) gave up six runs in the bottom half of the inning and lost 12-5 to Louisville (22-14, 7-6 Big East) on Friday at Jim Patterson Stadium.

The picture appeared to be a bright one for the Wildcats after junior Wesley Borden (State College, Pa.) hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth to tie the game 3-3. Seniors Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) and Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) each singled with one out and Borden cleared the bases with two down on his fourth long ball of the year and second in as many games.

Things unraveled soon after, though, as the team's third error of the game led to five unearned runs scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning. A dropped fly ball with one out prolonged the inning after the first run had scored and a fielder's choice on the next play that would have ended the inning instead allowed the second run of the inning to come home. Chris Dominquez and Andrew Clark then had back-to-back singles that accounted for three more runs and Stewart Ijames walked with the bases loaded for the final tally.

Senior Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) was the victim of the three defensive miscues, as just three of the nine runs on his account were earned over 5 2/3 innings. Ellis (3-3, 3.81 ERA) allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out five in his ninth start of the season and lost for just the first time in last three starts.

The Cardinals took a 3-0 lead earlier in the game with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and one in the home half of the third. John Dao reached on an error leading off the bottom of the first and Josh Richmond followed with a long home run to left field to open the scoring for Louisville. In the third inning, Justin McClanahan doubled with one out and scored with two down on a double by Clark.

Villanova had its hands full with Cardinal starter Zack Pitts through the early innings but started to break through the second time through the order. Before Borden's home run tied the game, the Wildcats had their best scoring chance in the top of the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with one out.

Borden started the fifth with a single up the middle, junior Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) walked and with one out senior Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) singled. With the bags full, however, a fly ball to shallow right field for the second out turned into an inning-ending double play when Borden initially broke for home and was tagged out sliding back into third base.

Terpak had two hits and two runs scored to extend his current hitting streak to six games and junior Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and Borden also had two hits apiece. Villanova plated its final two runs in the top of the eighth inning when Terpak scored on a balk and Cotter was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Wildcats sent eight men to the plate in the inning, which began with a single by Terpak and may have yielded even more offense if not for a slick 1-6-3 double play turned by Louisville that limited the damage. The Cardinals used four different pitchers to get through the inning, which featured a walk and single, respectively, by pinch hitters Dain Hall (Barrington, Ill.) and Robert Parks (Brick, N.J.).

Louisville scored its final three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on a run-scoring double by Jeff Arnold and a two-run single by Richmond. All nine Cardinal hitters had at least one hit and one run scored in the contest. Clark and Drew Haynes each had three hits.

Pitts (5-3, 4.32 ERA) allowed seven hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings to earn the win, while walking two and striking out six.

The teams continue their three-game series on Saturday at 4 p.m.