March 31, 1999

In the Liberty Bell Classic Opener at Veterans Stadium on Tuesday, March 30, the defending Liberty Bell Champion Villanova Wildcats got their second come from behind victory of the day in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the University of Pennsylvania 11-10. The win was the 400th career victory at Villanova University for head coach George Bennett, who had 398 wins coming into the day. Currently in his 14th season at the helm of the Wildcats, Bennett's record at the school now stands at 400-259-5. Coming to Villanova in 1985 after four years at St. Joseph's University, his overall collegiate head coaching record is 468-307-8.

Playing Wagner College earlier in the day on Tuesday, Villanova came from one run down in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Seahawks 8-7. The win was Bennett's 399th and put him just one away from the 400-victory milestone heading into the Liberty Bell Classic opener. Last season, the Wildcats defeated Delaware, 10-6, to win their first Liberty Bell Classic title.

Villanova struck first against Pennsylvania scoring one run in the second on a single by senior Bill Brehm to take a 1-0 lead. After the Quakers tied the game in the top of the third inning, the Wildcats reclaimed the lead, 4-1, in the bottom of the inning on a three-run home run by freshman first baseman Rob Cafiero. Villanova increased that lead to 6-1 in the fourth on an RBI double by sophomore second baseman Matt Longo and an RBI ground out by sophomore designated hitter Nick Piantek.

Up 7-1 heading into the sixth inning, Pennsylvania rallied with four runs to cut the Villanova lead to 7-5. The offense kept flowing for the Wildcats, as Longo and Cafiero hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the sixth to pad the lead to 9-5. In the top of the seventh, however, the Quakers got four straight hits to spark a five-run inning, as Pennsylvania took its first lead at 10-9. Second baseman Travis Putnam led the Quaker charge with a two-RBI double in the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Pennsylvania pitcher Anthony Napolitano walked Longo to put the tying run aboard. The next batter, Rob Cafiero, was hit by a pitch advancing Longo to second base. After Piantek struck out for the second out of the inning, pinch hitter Matt Blaney walked to load the bases. Brehm was hit by a pitch for his second RBI of the game, bringing home Longo with the tying run. Looking to send the Wildcats to the Liberty Bell semifinals, senior catcher John Picone stepped up to the plate and lined a single over the head of the third baseman to give Villanova a 11-10 victory and Bennett his 400th win.

Getting the win for the Cats was Kevin Feeley, who posts his first win of the season At the plate, Cafiero led Villanova going three-for-five with two homeruns, three runs scored and four RBI. Longo was outstanding as well, going three-for-four with a home run, double, three runs scored and two RBI.

The Wildcats advance to the semifinals with the victory and will meet Temple University on Tuesday, April 6, at Veterans Stadium at 7:00 p.m. Villanova now travels to Boston college, where they will play a doubleheader against the Eagles on Thursday, April 1, at 12:00 noon.