April 22, 2008

Box Score

AMBLER, Pa. - Senior James Dolbier (Lebanon, N.J.) hit a game-tying three-run home run in the seventh inning and junior Kyle Carver (Aldan, Pa.) led off the eighth with a solo shot to give Villanova (19-20) its first and only necessary lead in a 13-5 victory over Temple (20-18) on Tuesday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field.

Trailing 5-1 entering the seventh inning, the Wildcats scored four runs in the seventh, three in the eighth and five in the ninth to storm past the Owls in the first of two meetings between the teams this season. Villanova loaded the bases with none out in the seventh on walks to freshman Dain Hall (Barrington, Ill.) and junior Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and a pinch-hit single by senior Tim Poydenis (Vero Beach, Fla.).

A fielder's choice ground ball led to an out at the plate and senior Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) delivered a sacrifice fly to make the score 5-2 ahead of Dolbier's team-leading seventh home run of the season. The heart of the Wildcat order that included senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.), Terpak and Dolbier combined to drive in nine runs despite going 3-for-15 in the game.

Carver, who pitched the sixth and seventh innings, hit his second career home run to give Villanova the lead and Terpak later singled home two runs in the eighth inning to put the Wildcats ahead 8-5. Cotter singled home two runs in the ninth and Shunk drilled a bases-clearing three-run double to close the scoring.

It wound up being a great day overall for Carver (2-1, 5.87 ERA), who not only hit the go-ahead home run but also wound up the winning pitcher. He initially entered the game as a pinch hitter for senior Gus Guida (Martinsville, N.J.) in the top of the sixth inning. Carver grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the sixth inning and then allowed two runs in the bottom half of the frame as Temple increased its lead from 3-1 to 5-1.

Redemption came quickly for Carver, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning after Villanova tied the game and then gave his team the lead with the home run. He has gone 4-for-6 at the plate in his last two games and also earned his second win of the year.

Cotter, senior Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) and junior Wesley Borden (State College, Pa.) all had two hits for the Wildcats, who finished with 12 hits, drew nine walks and struck out only three times.

The Owls led 3-0 after scoring once in the first inning and twice in the second off of redshirt freshman Chris Pack (Hinsdale, Ill.). In his 10th start of the season, Pack recovered from the shaky start to go five innings and allow the three earned runs on nine hits. He walked one, struck out three and retired the last eight batters he faced.

Junior Josh Eidell (Norristown, Pa.) retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings to record his seventh save of the season. He came into the game in the bottom of the eighth inning in what was then an 8-5 game.

Byron McKoy led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run for Temple, which scored two in the second inning on an RBI groundout by Jamie Abercrombie and a run-scoring triple by Sean Barksdale. Abercrombie added an RBI double in the sixth inning and McKoy finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

Steve Nikorak allowed one run on five hits in six innings and walked three while striking out two. Ryan Thomas took the loss for the Owls, allowing the three runs in the eighth inning to Villanova.

The Wildcats host Saint Joseph's on Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. and will look to avenge a 7-5 loss to the Hawks earlier this season in Norristown.