May 21, 2008

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - On the second day of the BIG EAST Championship, Villanova (29-27) allowed nine extra-base hits and was defeated by No. 4 seed Louisville (39-19) by a 14-3 count at Bright House Field. The loss drops the Wildcats into an elimination game against No. 5 seed Seton Hall (31-25) on Thursday at 4 p.m.

The Cardinals scored two runs in the second inning and then broke the game open with a four-run third inning that chased starting pitcher Jordan Ellis (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) with one out in the frame. After Villanova manufactured two runs in the bottom of the third to keep the game close, Louisville erupted for five more runs in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach.

Senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) went 3-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games. Shunk lined a single to center field to score two runs in the third inning as the Wildcats once again demonstrated their efficient base-to-base offense. Pinch hitter Joe Rosati (Havertown, Pa.), junior Joe Cotter (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) and senior Ryan Arcadia (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) all dropped down textbook bunts to start the inning.

Rosati and Cotter reached on singles while Arcadia's bunt was a sacrifice that moved both runners into scoring position. Shunk followed with his second straight hit to bring in both runners. Arcadia hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to account for the only other Villanova run. The Wildcats were outhit 16-8 in the game, which was stopped after the seventh inning due to the conference tournament's 10-run mercy rule.

The top five hitters in the Cardinal lineup combined to go 12-for-25 with 10 runs and 10 RBI against five Villanova pitchers. Stewart Ijames hit a two-run home run in the third inning and BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year Chris Dominguez hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning. Dominguez and Justin McClanahan each drove in three runs, as McClanahan went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple.

Ellis (3-6, 5.49 ERA) surrendered eight hits, six earned runs and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. Sophomore Kevin Crimmel (Harrisburg, Pa.) finished the third inning and tossed a strong 1-2-3 inning in the fourth in which he set down the 2-3-4 batters in the lineup in order.

Justin Marks (8-1, 2.25 ERA) allowed three earned runs on seven hits in six innings of work, during which he walked one and struck out seven. B.J. Rosenberg pitched a scoreless seventh inning to close out the game.

NOTES: Shunk is now batting .778 (7-for-9) in two games in the BIG EAST Championship and has hit safely in 34 of his last 36 games ... In the span of 36 games he is batting a torrid .459 (62-135) ... Senior Bill Hoffman (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) draws the start against Seton Hall on Thursday afternoon.