Matt McFolling's three-run home run was part of a four-run second inning for the Wildcats on Sunday.

Feb. 24, 2008

Box Score

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Although both teams got off to a rocking offensive start, Villanova (0-3) was unable to keep the momentum going and dropped the final game of a three-game series, 18-9, to No. 18 Michigan (3-0) on Sunday at Tradition Field. The Wolverines completed a three-game sweep at the New York Mets spring training facility.

Both teams scored multiple runs in each of their first two times up and when the Wildcats added a single run in the top of the third there had been scoring in five straight half innings. Senior Dan Terpak (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and junior Matt McFolling (Chicago, Ill.) each hit their second home runs of the series in the first two innings for Villanova.

A two-run shot by Terpak in the top of the first gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead, but Michigan scored four times in the bottom frame to go on top. McFolling hit a three-run home run as part of a four-run response from Villanova in the second inning but the Wolverines answered with three more in the home half. A run-scoring groundout by senior Robert Parks (Brick, N.J.) in the top of the third tied the score at 7-7.

The early barrage of runs came to an end at that point and the score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fifth. That was when Michigan made its charge though, scoring six times in the bottom of the fifth inning and four more times in the sixth to put the game out of reach along the way to the final score.

Senior Ryan Wendler (Conshohocken, Pa.) came out of the bullpen to pitch a 1-2-3 inning in the third and escape a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, but he stranded two runners on base that each eventually scored during the fifth-inning rally.

For the second time in three games, the Wildcats drew 10 walks from the Wolverines pitching staff. The free passes led to the nine Villanova runs coming on just five hits. Every hitter in the team's starting lineup reached base at least once for the second straight day. McFolling and senior Derek Shunk (Yardley, Pa.) each had a hit in all three games of the series. Shunk went 1-for-3 and scored two runs on Sunday, while Terpak scored three runs and drove in two while going 1-for-4.

Jeff DeCarlo pitched four hitless innings of relief and allowed just an unearned run to pick up the win for Michigan, which got all three wins from its bullpen in the series. Starting pitcher Ben Jenzen was chased after allowing six earned runs in two innings. Offensively, Jason Christian and Leif Mahler each scored four times for the Wolverines and Zach Putnam and Adam Abraham drove in four runs apiece.

The Wildcats return to the Sunshine State next week for their annual Spring Break trip. Villanova will be in Bradenton to play six games hosted by the IMG Academy. The schedule includes games against Western Michigan, Northeastern, Fairfield and Bowling Green. First up is a game against Western Michigan at 1 p.m. on Friday (February 29). Four of the games in Bradenton will be played at the IMG baseball fields, but a doubleheader on March 1 against Northeastern will be played at Manatee Community College.