March 28, 1999

Villanova, Pa.--- One day after getting swept by Notre Dame in its Big East opener, the Villanova University baseball team redeemed itself by sweeping a doubleheader from the Red Storm of St. John's on Sunday, March 28, at Richie Ashburn Field, in Philadelphia, Pa.. The Wildcats took the first game in ten innings, 1-0, on a one-out solo home run by sophomore Nick Piantek in the bottom of the tenth inning. Villanova then held off St. John's, 6-5, in the day's second game to sweep the visiting Red Storm. With the two victories, Villanova improves its record to 11-12-1 overall and 2-2 in Big East Conference play.

Game one was a pitchers dual between Will Henry of Villanova and Keith Stamler of St. John's. Leading the Wildcats with his best outing of the season, Henry pitched nine shutout innings, allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out three. After giving up three hits in the first four innings of work, Henry held the Red Storm hitless for the next five frames. Stamler was just as dominant, however, throwing nine scoreless innings of his own, striking out eight without walking a batter.

After Stamler (0-4) struck out the first batter in the bottom of the tenth, Piantek walked up to the plate. Going one-for-three in his first three at-bats of the game, his fourth would prove to be the most defining as he hit a game-winning solo home run over the left-centerfield wall to give the Wildcats a 1-0 victory. Getting the win on the mound for Villanova was Brian Manning (1-1), who relieved Henry in the tenth and pitched one scoreless inning of relief.

In game two, the Wildcats scored early, putting two runs on the board in the second inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Catcher Dan Glover had an RBI single in the inning for Villanova. One inning later, leftfielder Dave Pizzini hit a two-out RBI single to increase the Wildcat lead to 3-0. Up 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Villanova put what looked to be the finishing touches on the Red Storm with two more runs to take a commanding 6-1 lead.

In the top of the ninth, however, St. John's rallied by scoring once on a bases loaded walk by Michael Niksa, and three more times on a triple by Billy Cassolo to pull to within 6-5. With the tying run on third base and two outs, Manning struck out pinch hitter Kirk Dorsey for the game's final out.

For the second straight game, the Wildcats received outstanding pitching, this time from freshman starter Rob Cafiero. Cafiero (2-1) got the win pitching eight and one-third innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out six and walking two. Manning relieved Cafiero in the ninth and allowed two runs, before retiring the final two batters for his fifth save of the season. Taking the loss for St. John's was Pat Collins, whose record falls to 1-2.

Villanova will resume play on Tuesday, March 30, hosting Wagner at Richie Ashburn Field at 3:30 p.m. Following their contest against Wagner, the Wildcats travel across the street to Veterans Stadium to play Pennsylvania in the opening round of the Liberty Bell Classic at 7:00 p.m.