The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia men's baseball
team gave Villanova University their second scare in less than
eight hours after 'Nova's men's basketball team barely won their
NCAA Tournament game yesterday afternoon, leading by three entering
the bottom of the eighth inning before the Wildcats rallied tie tie
the game and later win it in the ninth inning 4-3 at Villanova
Ballpark in Plymouth Meeting.
The loss drops the Devils record to 0-10 entering conference
play this weekend. Villanova improves to 12-2.
Sciences got a strong outing from starter Dustin Gill (Delone
Catholic/Hanover, Pa.), who pitched into the eighth inning. The
senior hurler had given up just six singles and two walks while
striking out two before walking the first two Villanova batters to
lead off the bottom of the eighth. Freshman Dan McMahon (Millville
HS/Millville, N.J.) relieved Gill and got two outs before the
Wildcats struck for three runs to tie the game. 'Nova's Matt
Fleishman later hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to
win in for the Wildcats. McMahon took the loss, his first of the
season (0-1).
Mike Gartland (Gloucester Catholic HS/Gloucester City, N.J.)
staked the Devils to a 1-0 lead in the second inning, blasting a
triple to centerfield to score Lou Tomasetti (Monsignor Bonner
HS/Drexel Hill, Pa.) from second base. Meanwhile Gill was holding
Villanova in check as the game progressed. The Devils added a pair
of runs in the top half of the eighth inning to get some breathing
room and take a 3-0 lead.
Pete LaRocco (Gloucester Catholic HS/Sewell, N.J.) drew a
leadoff walk and Mark Forbes (Salesianum HS/Hockessin, Del.)
followed with a single. Both runners moved up on an infield
groundout before Tomasetti singled to score LaRocco. Jeff Murtha
(LaSalle College HS/Worcester, Pa.)followed with a sacrifice fly to
score Forbes, making the score 3-0.
The Devils turned to their bullpen after Gill tired in the
eighth and walked the first two batters. McMahon entered, got two
out but loaded the bases on a short hit to right field. "Nova pinch
hitter Steve Schrenk then delivered a two-out single to plate two
runs and Matt Szczur drove in the tying run with a single through
the left side. Dain Hall doubled off the fence to lead off the
ninth and came around to score the winning run of Fleishman's
single.
Kyle Davis (Garnet Valley HS/Garnet Valley, Pa.) had three hits
in the game, including two doubles while Tomasetti and Gartland had
two hits apiece.
The Devils open Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play with
a doubleheader on Saturday at Richie Ashburn Field against
Concordia College. Sciences lost to the Clippers 5-1 in a
non-conference game in Florida two weeks ago. USP will face the
Clippers for two more games on Sunday at Ashburn as well. Starting
times for both days is 12:00 noon.
