March 7, 2006

Box Score

Bradenton, Fla. - Sophomore Pat Kimutis's (Washington, PA / Trinity) home run, double and three RBI helped Duquesne's baseball team to a 6-4 lead heading into Villanova's turn in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Wildcats put together a seven-run rally in that frame to sink the Dukes, 11-6, Tuesday at Academy Park in Bradenton.

Kimutis was 3-for 6 and classmate Derek Mechling (Homer City, PA / Homer Center) was 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead Duquesne. Junior Joe Berletic (Jefferson Hills, PA / Thomas Jefferson) hit two singles in four at-bats as the Red and Blue put together a 12-hit attack.

Freshan Brian Schwartzbauer (Glenshaw, PA / Shaler) relieved junior Jeff Naughton (Rochester, NY / Churchville Chili) in the sixth with the Dukes down 4-3. He held 'Nova scoreless for two innings while Duquesne added two in the seventh and one in the eighth to go ahead 6-4. Unfortunately, the younger brother of DU alum and Pirate farmhand Dan, was unable to get anyone out in the eighth, walked in two runs and was charged with five earned runs and the loss.

The Wildcats (6-4) scored those seven runs on three hits, four walks, a hit batsman, a passed ball and a wild pitch. Frank Jankowski escaped a jam in the seventh inning and retired the side in the eighth to earn his first win of the season.

The Dukes (1-5) next headed to their second game of the day, taking on Toledo later in the afternoon.