PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.—Sophomore starting pitcher
Jimmy Kingsbury (Phoenixville, Pa.) extended his streak of scoreless innings pitched to 16 1/3 before an eighth inning rally turned the tables in a 4-1 loss at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth on Sunday afternoon. Villanova (5-18) carried a 1-0 lead into the eighth inning before LIU Brooklyn (7-13) scored four unanswered runs.
Kingsbury (3-2, 3.95 ERA) wound up being charged with two earned runs on five hits in 7 1/3 innings, while walking one and striking out four. Coming off a one-hit shutout in his previous start last weekend, Kingsbury had allowed just four hits over seven scoreless innings against the Blackbirds as he made a bid for a second straight shutout. He has given up just two runs on six hits in his last two starts, with a 1.10 ERA and a 0.55 WHIP in that span.
The eighth inning got off to a promising start for Kingsbury when junior third baseman
John Heilenbach (Western Springs, Ill.) bare-handed a slow roller and threw to first in time for the first out of the frame. Kingsbury was then ahead 0-1 on LIU Brooklyn leadoff batter Joe Mercadante, but his second pitch appeared to just graze the back of Mercadante's jersey. It was ruled a hit by pitch and Mercadante represented the tying run at first base. Andrew Smith followed with a triple to the fence in center field which tied the game at 1-1 and forced Kingsbury from the game.
Senior reliever
Zach Lutner (Sicklerville, N.J.) entered the game to face Gregory Vaughn, Jr. and the Wildcats brought the infield in in an attempt to cut off the go-ahead run at the plate. Vaughn instead hit a 1-1 pitch just past the drawn-in infield to score Smith, while Brock Hallum later hit a two-run double after his plate appearance was extended by a dropped foul ball. The third and fourth runs of the inning were unearned.
Most of the game was a terrific pitchers' duel between Kingsbury and Blackbirds starting pitcher Jackson Svete, who gave up just four hits and an unearned run in six innings. Villanova struck first in a scoreless game when freshman shortstop
Dylan McNary (Jefferson, Mass.) led off the home half of the sixth with a walk, advanced to third on a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt and later scored on a two-out RBI single by sophomore center fielder
Chris Rotondo (Redding, Conn.).
McNary was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored on the day after reaching base four times in Friday's series opener. He had a single, a walk and was twice hit by a pitch in Friday's game. Freshman designated hitter
Nick Lorusso (Monroe, Conn.) had a double and a walk in Sunday's contest, while senior catcher
Doug deMarrais (Bernardsville, N.J.) singled, walked and was hit by a pitch in his three plate appearances.
For the second straight day, LIU Brooklyn second baseman Rob Griswold (2-1, 4.70) moved from the infield to the mound to pitch a scoreless inning of relief. He worked a hitless bottom of the seventh inning with the Blackbirds trailing 1-0, then moved back to second base after being the beneficiary of his team's four-run eighth inning. Mike Kreiger pitched two scoreless innings to earn his fourth save of the season and second in as many days.
The emergence of Kingsbury as the Wildcats staff ace has become a significant storyline for the 2019 season. He has allowed three earned runs or less in four of his six starts on the year, won three consecutive starts against St. Bonaventure, Central Michigan and La Salle, and also had a six-out save against Northeastern during the middle of that stretch. The local product and son of former Villanova pitcher Larry Kingsbury has also been excellent when pitching in the spacious confines of the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. In the first eight home starts of his career, Kingsbury has pitched to a 2.90 ERA and a 1.087 WHIP while averaging better than six innings per start. He has allowed just 46 hits and issued eight walks over 49 2/3 innings pitched in those eight starts.
Next up on the Wildcats schedule is a pair of midweek home games. Villanova hosts Bucknell on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and will then take on Penn at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in a Liberty Bell Classic quarterfinal game.
