Baseball Splits Doubleheader With Villanova

Box Score - Game 1 (html) Box Score - Game 1 (pdf) Box Score - Game 2 (html) Box Score - Game 2 (pdf)  

VILLANOVA, PA.   The Seton Hall baseball team took game one of the doubleheader against Villanova, 4-2, in 11 innings, however fell to the Wildcats, 10-4, in game two Thursday afternoon in Villanova.

In game one, after Matt McFolling singled in the first run of the game in the home half of the first inning, the Pirates came right back in the top of the second to tie the game.

Sophomore Frank Esposito (Staten Island, N.Y.) hit a one-out double to center field, and came around to score on an RBI double by junior Michael Rogers (Portland, Ore.).

The score remained tied at one until the top half of the sixth inning when sophomore Sean Gusrang (Burlington, N.J.) ripped a two-out RBI single to give the Pirates a, 2-1, lead, which lasted until Justin Bencsko hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game.

The Pirates took the lead for good in the 11^th inning.  After senior Chris Affinito (East Brunswick, N.J.) led off the inning with a single, pinch-hitter Charlie Rivera (Hazlet, N.J.) stepped to the plate to deliver an RBI base hit.  Rogers followed with an RBI single of his own for the Pirates two-run lead.

Rogers finished the game leading the Hall’s offense going 3-for-5 with two RBI.

Junior Matt Singer (Bayonne, N.J.) (3-1) picked up the win tossing two scoreless innings of relief and freshman George Fernandez (Union, N.J.) earned his first save with a scoreless 11^th inning.  Mike Francisco (1-2) took the loss allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of work. 

Pirates junior starter Sean Black (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) took home a no decision after pitching eight innings allowing only one earned run on three hits striking out 10.

In game two, the Wildcats (16-16, 2-9) picked up an RBI single by Joe Rosati in the bottom of the first, a two-run single by Bencsko in the bottom of the second inning, and an RBI single by Dain Hall in the bottom of the third inning to grab an early, 4-0, lead.

The Pirates (15-13, 6-5) would cut the lead to, 4-1, when Rivera brought home sophomore A.J. Rusbarsky (Freehold, N.J.) on a groundout to the left-side, however Villanova would open the game open in the bottom of the fifth.

Leading, 5-1, in the fifth Matt Szczur hit an RBI single and Rosati a two-run triple to highlight a five run frame.

Freshman Michael Betz (Mine-Hill, N.J.) drove home a run on an RBI groundout to the right-side and sophomore Ed Brown (Edison, N.J.) hit a two-run home run for the Pirates, however it would not be enough for a comeback.

Senior Keith Cantwell (Tinton Falls, N.J.) (4-1) took the loss surrendering four earned runs in 4.1 innings of work while striking out five.  Kevin Crimmel (3-2) picked up the win allowing three earned runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings.

The Pirates and Wildcats will return to the field on Saturday afternoon to complete the series.  First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.