PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.- The Villanova baseball team defeated the La Salle Explorers 1-0 on a sunny and cold Sunday afternoon at Villanova Ballpark. Jimmy Kingsbury pitched a complete game and only gave up one hit to the Explorers. It was the 17th 1-0 win in school history and first since 2017 against Xavier.
Jimmy Kingsbury and his father Larry are now the first father-son one-hit combo in school history. Larry and David Herr combined on a one-hitter in a 6-2 win over Georgetown on April 16, 1992.
It was the seventh time in school history that Villanova has only allowed an opponent one hit. The last time occurred on April 3, 2012 when Tyler Radtke, Matt Lengel and Julian Diaz combined to one-hit Lafayette in a 2-1 win.
La Salle's lone hit came in the top of the first when Guckin hit a slow ground ball to third base and beat the throw to first.
In the top of the third, Rotondo doubled to left center. The next batter Lorusso singled to center field to score Rotondo and to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. It was Lorusso's 13th RBI of the season.
The Wildcats started the bottom of the sixth with Lorusso hitting a leadoff single down the left field line. Ryan Toohers was hit by a pitch and then Pat O'Neil laid down a bunt along the third base line and beat out the throw to first to load the bases with one out. Villanova couldn't take advantage to increase their lead as the next two batters got out.
With the win, Kingsbury improves to 3-1 on the season. He threw 105 pitches and only walked two batters while striking out five (two looking, three swinging). Kingsbury also retired the final 19 batters of the game.
Pat O'Neil led the Wildcats with three singles including a bunt down the third base line. It was O'Neil's second three hit game this season.
Chris Rotondo and Nick Lorusso both had two hits for the Wildcats. Lorusso's first hit of the game drove in the Wildcats only run of the day.
La Salle has not won a road game against Villanova since 1988. The Wildcats have beaten the Explorers in their last 28 home games.
The last time the Wildcats shutout an opponent was on April 29, 2017 in a 4-0 victory against Georgetown.
Villanova returns to action on Tuesday March 19th as they travel to rival Saint Joseph's with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m.
The Wildcats next home series will start on Friday March 22nd with a three-game series against LIU Brooklyn at Villanova Ballpark.
