This past weekend, Villanova’s baseball team faced Seton Hall and fell to the Pirates, 9-3, in the opening game of the series, before splitting Sunday’s doubleheader with a 3-2 loss and 11-6 victory.
Sunday’s victory was Villanova’s first conference play victory this season and gave the ‘Cats an overall 13-25 record. Villanova is now 1-11 in the Big East.
On Friday, April 24, Seton Hall found early momentum, knocking in a run during the first inning.
Villanova managed to come back after redshirt sophomore catcher Mark Gialluisi knocked in a run, getting one of Villanova’s walks home in the top of the second.
Seton Hall took the lead again in the inning. Villanova responded in the top of the third with senior utility Collin Quintano taking advantage of runners on base to tie the game, 2-2.
“A number of guys did a much better job of controlling the zone and not chasing,” head coach Kevin Mulvey said.
The bottom of the third saw a strong effort from the Pirates, which took a 5-2 lead.
After the sixth, Seton Hall led up 7-2, following an RBI triple. Quintano knocked in another RBI. However, the Pirates answered, ending the game, 9-3.
Saturday’s game was postponed due to bad weather, resulting in a Sunday doubleheader.
During Sunday’s first matchup, sophomore utility player Jojo Montgomery drove the first pitch of the game over the fence for his second home run of the year.
“That really set the tone for our offense and got us going,” Mulvey said.
Soon after, Seton Hall imitated Montgomery and landed a solo shot of its own in the bottom of the inning.
Quintano and redshirt sophomore outfielder Austin Lemon reached base for freshman shortstop Larry Hotaling to record the RBI, pushing the Wildcats ahead once again.
With a pair of bunts and a squeeze play, Seton Hall evened the score in the fifth, 2-2. It again added to their score with more hits in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.
Villanova’s last opportunity came in the seventh inning due to doubleheader game rules. The ‘Cats failed to score a run, and the game ended, 3-2.
“I’ve been working with the lineup and trying new things to maximize the run production,” Mulvey said. “Our pitchers did a good job of getting ahead in the count and making good pitches”.
The second game on Sunday began with the first three Wildcat batters reaching base. A hard single by Montgomery scored Lemon, and senior infielder Michael Whooley gave Villanova an early 2-0 lead.
The Pirates answered quickly in the third with a three-run home run followed by a two-out RBI hit in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead.
Sophomore infielder Brayden Leonard and graduate third baseman Carter Ricchey connected for a pair of doubles in the sixth. Gialluisi completed the comeback with a two-run shot, giving Villanova a 5-4 lead.
Montgomery maintained Villanova’s control with a bases-clearing ground-rule double followed by an insurance run from Leonard.
Although Seton Hall closed the deficit to 8-6 in the seventh, Quintano answered with a two-run home run to raise the score to 10-6. Ricchey recorded a final RBI double to finish the game, 11-6.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Matthew Kahn closed out the game for the Wildcats, collecting six strikeouts.
“I feel good for them,” Mulvey said. “They all work very hard in their preparation and they all play very hard and want to win. It was nice to see it all come into fruition”.
Villanova will now look towards its next Big East matchup against Georgetown on Friday, May 1.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Capital One Park in Washington, DC.
