Wildcats Defeat Atlantic City Surf, 9-7, at the Sandcastle in AC :: Catch Greg Fater knocked in the go-ahead run for Villanova in the ninth as the `Cats went on for thr 9-7 victory.

Catch Greg Fater knocked in the go-ahead run for Villanova in the ninth as the `Cats went on for thr 9-7 victory.

April 24, 2003

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - On Thursday, April 24th, the Villanova baseball team defeated the minor league's Atlantic City Surf of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs, 9-7, in an exhibition game at the Sandcastle in Atlantic City, N.J. The Surf rallied from a 7-3 deficit to tie the game after eight innings, but the Wildcats scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to bring home a 9-7 victory.

In the top of the first inning, centerfielder Chris Graziano got the Villanova scoring started. Graziano walked to begin the inning, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout by third baseman Danny Poydenis, and came around to score one batter later on a sacrifice fly by leftfielder Brian Newbold.

The Wildcats added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning. Rightfielder Mitch Mitchell singled with one out and came around to score later in the inning on an RBI groundout by shortstop Brian Trotta to increase the Villanova advantage to 2-0.

Clinging to a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning, the Wildcats offense put three more runs on the board to open up a 5-1 lead. Poydenis plated the first run on a sacrifice fly. Two batters later with a runner on second, sophomore Alan Day came on as a pinch hitter and launched a two-run home run to left field to give Villanova a four-run lead.

Atlantic City got a rally of its own started in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring twice to close the gap to 5-3. Kim Batiste posted an RBI double in the inning for the Surf.

The Wildcats pulled away again one inning later in the top of the seventh. Graziano drove in two more runs on a double down the right-field line to increase the Villanova advantage to 7-3.

Atlantic City refused to go down easy, however, scoring one in the seventh and three times in the eighth to tie the game at 7-7. Ric Johnson knocked in the game-tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning with an RBI single through the right side.

In the top of the ninth inning, Villanova looked to break the 7-7 deadlock and pull the game out. With second baseman Dustin Downs on second and one out, catcher Greg Fater singled to left to knock in Downs and give the `Cats the lead once again at 8-7. Villanova added one more run in the inning, as pinch runner Darren Griffith scored on a Surf error to make it a 9-7 ballgame.

Wildcat reliever Mike Ciccotelli shut down Atlantic City in the bottom of the ninth inning, to send Villanova home with the 9-7 victory. Ciccotelli pitched one and a third scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.

Senior Mark Rocca got the start on the mound for the `Cats and pitched well despite not factoring in the decision. Rocca allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, striking out two and walking two.

At the plate for Villanova, Graziano went two-for-four with two runs scored, one double, two RBI and one stolen base, Day was one-for-two with a home run and two RBI, and Fater went two-for-three with a run scored and one RBI.

The Wildcats will get back into action on Saturday, hosting Georgetown in a Big East doubleheader beginning at noon. The two teams will the wind down the series on Sunday, playing a single game at noon.