Box Score
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Game 11 |
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Final Score |
Northeastern 7, Villanova 2 (W, Cubarney 1-0) |
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Records |
Northeastern 7-4, Villanova 1-8 |
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Next Game |
at Old Dominion (Norfolk, Va. • Bud Metheny Complex), 6 p.m. |
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – A big second inning, including a grand slam from second baseman
Michael Foster, led Northeastern to a win over Villanova on Wednesday afternoon, and a five-game sweep of the 2013 Snowbird Classic in Florida. The Huskies downed the Wildcats, 7-2, to close out the annual trip to the Sunshine State, improving to 7-4 on the season.
Foster, who picked up the second home run of his career with the second-inning slam, was 2-for-4 on the day with four RBI and a stolen base.
Rob Fonseca (1-for-3) had a big hit of his own in the second, driving in both
Connor Lyons (2-for-3) and
Brad Burcroff (1-for-4) for the game's first runs. On the mound,
Isaac Lippert earned the the start, this first as a Husky. The sophomore went 4.0 innings, throwing two strikeouts and walking three, while giving up just two runs. Freshman
Nick Cubarney stepped up on the hill as well, earning the win after pitching lights out for 5.0 innings, fanning four batters while walking just one. It was both pitchers' first appearance since playing the Red Sox on Feb. 21.
After an all-around scoreless first inning between the two clubs, Burcroff started things off in the second with a single in the infield to get on base. Lyons then made it two on with nobody out after being hit by a pitch in the right arm. Fonseca subsequently cleared the bases during his at bat with a booming shot down the left field line to the fence, giving the Huskies a nice 2-0 cushion, with more to come.
Getting the start behind the plate,
Josh Treff reached on a throwing error by B.J. Bochiccio, advancing Fonseca to third. The sophomore catcher then had the awareness to steal second after a bobbled ball by his Villanova counterpart, but
Pete Castoldi was walked on the ensuing at bat, anyway. Next,
Aaron Barbosa bounced a ball in play on the right side of the field, but a throw home on a fielder's choice prevented an immediate score from Fonseca. It was no matter, however, as Foster brought four runs in with a moon shot grand slam -- more than 365 feet to left center -- to give the Huskies a comfortable 6-0 lead. After
Jason Vosler singled and stole his second base in four games, Burcroff ended the inning he started, grounding out to Muerer on the mound.
The second inning also featured Villanova's biggest offensive output, with both of the Wildcats runs coming in the bottom of the frame. Lippert struck out Connor Jones in the first at bat, but a walk, followed by a single and a wild pitch, put runners in scoring position for VU. Lippert got Max Beerman to ground out to Foster, but one run came in. Trying a sacrifice bunt, Eric Low beat out the throw to first, while safely advancing Steve Schrenk as a result, cutting NU's lead to 6-2. Lowe was caught stealing by a frozen rope from Treff to second base to end the inning, however.
Both offenses appeared to be quieted down after the second inning, however. In total, the Huskies were sat down in order six times, to the Husky staff retiring the Wildcats in order three times, including Cubarney's first appearance in the fifth inning, which featured two strikeouts from the freshman.
In the top of that inning, the Huskies pushed across what would be their final run of the day. Foster grabbed his second hit of the afternoon with a single ip the middle to start the inning off. A Foster stolen base and two fly outs later,
Connor Lyons stood at the plate and ripped another one up the middle, scoring Foster easily from second.
The only offense from the bottom of the fifth inning on, featured a double and a walk by Villanova and a walk by Fonseca in the top of the eighth. But Northeastern's bigger second inning let the Huskies take the 7-2 victory and the Snowbird Classic sweep.
Northeastern heads to Norfolk, Va., next to kick off the CAA slate with a three-game series with Old Dominion on Friday at 6 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
• Foster's grand slam was the first for a Husky since May 13, 2012 when
Rob Fonseca drove home four against ODU
• With a stolen base today,
Aaron Barbosa now has five on the season, tops on the team
• The Huskies are currenty on a five-game winning streak, marking the first time since 2011 (April 8-15 - 6 games) that NU has won five in row
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