TicketsMay 5, 2006
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.---Villanova scored the game-winning run on an 11th inning Cincinnati balk as the Wildcats escaped with a 7-6, extra-inning win in the opener of a BIG EAST series on Friday. The Wildcats, fighting for the eighth and final position in the BIG EAST Tournament improve to 25-20 and 7-11 in league play. The Bearcats are 29-17, 10-9 BIG EAST.
UC, which had escaped dangerous situations in each of the previous two frames, wasn't so fortunate in the 11th as two walks and a costly error sent the Bearcats to defeat. Jake Geglein walked the first two runners of the inning and was relieved by Matt Heber. With Craig Mirsky, the BIG EAST leader in sacrifice hits at the plate, the Bearcats ran a pitch out and attempted pickoff at first base. But Nick Maragas' throw was mishandled by Mark Muscenti, allowing the runners to move to second and third. Heber was then charged with the first balk of his career, allowing Kris Molloy to come home with the winning run.
With Cincinnati clinging to a 6-5 lead in the ninth, pinch-hitter Darren Griffith proved to be hero as the Wildcats tied the game. Griffith led off with a double despite tripping while rounding first, and then went to third on a fly ball out. With the UC infield drawn in, Molly ripped a grounder at Bearcat third baseman Jon DeLuca. DeLuca made a diving stop of the smash and came up throwing, but his throw to first was wild, allowing Griffith to score the game-tying run. In the 10th, Geglein induced a bases loaded double play to Jim Gillin to escape a jam.
Cincinnati got the day off to a good start, scoring twice in the first against Nova starter Mike Loree. Jack Nelson dropped an RBI single to right and two batters later, DeLuca drew a bases loaded walk to put the Bearcats up 2-0.
Villanova would tie the score in the second, with Jeremy Hunt smashing his BIG EAST-best 15th homer to right center to lead the inning off. Matt McFolling tied the game three batters later with an RBI single through the right side. The Wildcats would go up 5-2 an inning later, getting a Hunt RBI single, a Joe Rosati run-scoring fielder's choice and a bases loaded walk to Andy Wendle.
The Bearcats jumped on the comeback trail in the top of the fourth as Nelson laced a run-scoring double inside the right field line that plated Maragas. UC would go in front in the seventh with Brian Szarmach appearing to play the part of hero. After Loree retired the first two hitters of the inning, Nelson walked and Muscenti looped a single to left that spelled the end of the day for Loree. DeLuca greeted reliever Ryan Wendler with a single to load the bases. Szarmach then drilled a deep shot to center that hit on the warning track for a bases clearing double.
UC starter Steve Blevins gave the Bearcats a gutsy performance, despite not putting up his best numbers of the year. The freshman allowed five runs and 12 hits in 6.1 innings, but yielded just four hits in his last 4.1 innings of work. Geglein took the loss, falling to 1-1.
For Villanova, Loree shook off a tough start to allow five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Gus Guida (2-1) worked the last two innings in shutout fashion to earn the win.
Cincinnati's offense was paced by DeLuca who went 3 for 5 to snap out of a 1 for 19 skid. Nelson had a pair of hits and RBI, while Muscenti and Josh Harrison collected two hits each. Villanova was led by Mirsky's four hits and three each from Hunt and Molloy.
Game two of the three-game set will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday. UC will go with freshman lefty Dan Osterbrock, while Villanova sends staff ace Kevin Mulvey to the hill.