May 13, 2003

Final Stats

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - On Tuesday, May 13th, at Beaver Field in University Park, Pa., the Villanova baseball team wound down its final road trip of the season by dropping a 23-8 decision to Penn State. Chris Graziano and Danny Poydenis each had two hits and freshman Jim Gillin blasted his first career home run, but it was not enough for the Wildcats, who fell to 13-30 on the season with the loss. The Nittany Lions, who pounded Villanova pitching for 23 runs on 24 hits on Tuesday, evened their record at 24-24.

The Wildcats took the game's first lead, posting one run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Leftfielder Brian Newbold got the scoring started with an RBI groundout for the `Cats.

Penn State struck back against Villanova starter Mark Rocca, putting three on the board in the second and five in the third to take an 8-1 advantage. Zack Smithlon had a two-run single in the third inning and an RBI double in the fourth to spark the Nittany Lions.

The Wildcats got back into the contest with a three run fourth inning to close the gap to 8-4. Poydenis plated the first run with a RBI triple, and second baseman Mark Cardillo knocked in the inning's second run with a RBI single. Graziano capped off the fourth inning scoring for the `Cats with a sacrifice fly to center to make it an 8-4 game.

Penn State put the game away in the bottom of the fourth inning, posting nine runs on six hits to take a commanding 17-4 lead. Derrick Barr and Mike DeRenzo each had two RBI in the inning for the Nittany Lions.

Villanova would get as close as 18-8 in the seventh on Gillin's first career home run - a two run blast to left field - but it was not nearly enough as Penn State cruised to the 23-8 victory.

The Wildcats will now return home to end the 2003 season, hosting the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for a three-game Big East Conference series.

Line score

Penn State 23, Villanova 8 (May 13, 2003 at University Park, Pa.)
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Villanova........... 100 302 200  -  8  8  3      (13-30)
Penn State.......... 035 910 50X  - 23 24  2      (24-24)
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Pitchers: Villanova - Rocca; Wolff(3); Ciccotelli(4); Grodecki(4); McCoy(7). Penn State -
Stidfole, A.; Carroll(4); Cline(5); Damiano(7).
Win-Stidfole, A.(1-2)  Save-Damiano(1)  Loss-Rocca(1-1)  T-3:17  A-238
HR NOVA - Gillin.
HR PSU - Reohr.
Wolff faced 3 batters in the 4th.
Ciccotelli faced 7 batters in the 4th.
Game: NOVA