Villanova Offense on Cruise Control in 17-2 Win Over Saint Joseph's :: Freshman Alan Day went four-for-five with two RBI versus the Hawks on Thursday.

April 4, 2002

NORRISTOWN, PA. - In a battle of cross-town rivals on Thursday, April 4, at Latshaw-McCarthy Field in Norristown, the Villanova baseball team posted season-highs of 17 runs and 21 hits in a lop-sided 17-2 victory over Saint Joseph's. The Wildcats got a strong pitching performance from freshman Nick Allen and six players recorded two or more hits for Villanova, which improved to 16-11 on the year with the win. The Hawks fell to 4-22-1 overall on the season with Thursday's loss.

The Wildcats got things started in the first inning, scoring one run on Saint Joseph's starter Al Braun to take an early 1-0 advantage. First baseman Rob Cafiero walked with two outs, and left fielder Adrian Schau doubled to left-center to score Cafiero with the game's first run.

In the second inning, catcher Greg Fater and Cafiero tallied RBI singles, and Villanova took advantage of two Hawk errors to extend its lead to 4-0.

The Wildcats kept up the offensive onslaught in the top of the third. Right fielder Brian Newbold doubled with one out. With two outs and runners at first and second, Fater singled through the right side to score Cafiero. Villanova would score once more in the inning on an RBI single by center fielder Chris Graziano to take a commanding 6-0 lead.

Newbold registered an RBI single the next inning, lining a single up the middle to make it a 7-0 game in favor of the Wildcats.

Scott Gehringer replaced Braun to begin the fifth, but had no better luck against the Wildcat offense. Villanova scored four more runs in the fifth on five hits to break open the game with an 11-0 lead. First baseman Ryan Crammer had two-run single in the inning for the `Cats, while second baseman Brendan Trainor tallied an RBI double and freshman Alan Day added an RBI single.

On the mound for Villanova, freshman Nick Allen threw five strong innings holding Saint Joseph's to just one run on four hits.

The Wildcats scored for the sixth-consecutive inning in the top of the sixth inning. With the help of six walks by Hawk pitchers, Villanova added six more runs on just two hits to increase its lead to 17-1. Day and Newbold each had RBI singles for the `Cats in the inning.

Freshman Joe McCoy pitched two scoreless innings of relief for Villanova, and James Baxter and Mike Ciccotelli closed out the game with two more strong innings of relief as the Wildcats cruised to a 17-2 win.

Allen picked up the win for Villanova to improve to 2-0. Braun took the loss for the Hawks to fall to 0-7.

Day set a career-high with four hits, going four-for-five with two runs scored and two RBI. A number of other Wildcats had tremendous offensive game for the Wildcats. Graziano went two-for-four with one RBI. Cafiero went two-for-two with a double and an RBI. Newbold went three-for-six with two RBI. And Fater tallied three hits in four at-bats with a game-high three RBI.

Villanova will next play this weekend, hosting Virginia Tech in a three-game series. The Wildcats will face the Hokies in a doubleheader on Saturday at noon, and in a single game on Sunday at noon.