PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – The Villanova baseball team was defeated by the Monmouth Hawks in the 10th inning on Tuesday afternoon at Villanova Ballpark. It was the Wildcats' third extra inning game of the season.
Chris Rotondo led the Wildcats with three hits. It was his fifth game this season with three or more hits.
John Heilenbach went two for three and walked twice. It was Heilenbach's second multi-hit game of the year.
Getting the start on the mound was Ryan Toohers who pitched three innings allowing three hits, one run, earned and walked one.
Zach Lutner pitched one and a third innings allowing one hit, one walk and struck out two. Jonathan Rosero went two innings allowing one hit and struck out one batter.
The Hawks started the game with a leadoff walk. Then a one out single through the right side advanced the runner to third. A ground out to second scored the runner from third to give Monmouth a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, after a two out walk to Dylan McNary, John Heilenbach doubled to right center to score McNary and tie the game at 1-1.
Monmouth in the top of the fourth, led off with a single through the right side. The next batter doubled to right center and the runner on first scored to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.
Villanova quickly responded, Timothy Lilly reached on an error by the third baseman. A one out walk to Heilenbach moved Lilly to second. Then Sam Margulis hit a RBI single to left field, advancing Heilenbach to third and Margulis went to second on the throw. Chris Rotondo walked to load the bases.
Pat O'Neill reached on a fielder's choice to second base and then advanced to second after a muffed catch by the first baseman. Heilenbach scored and Margulis scored on the error.
Nick Lorusso doubled to left center field to score O'Neill and to give the Wildcats a 5-2 lead after four innings of play.
In the top of the fifth, Monmouth started with a single through the right side and the next batter walked. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third with one out. John Heilenbach then made a diving play to snag a line drive to get the second out. The Hawks then hit a single to left field to score both runners and make it a one run game of 5-4 Villanova.
Both teams were held in check the next three innings.
In the top of the ninth, the Hawks singled and then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second with one out. Monmouth then grounded out to the shortstop to get the second out but the runner on second advanced to third. A wild pitch by Villanova scored the runner and tied the ball game at 5-5.
The Wildcats couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the ninth, so it was on to extra innings.
Monmouth leadoff the tenth inning with a single up the middle. Another sacrifice bunt by the Hawks advanced the runner to second. A groundout to the second baseman moved the runner to third. With two outs, the Hawks singled to centerfield to take the lead 6-5.
In the bottom half of the tenth, Villanova had the tying run on third and winning run on second but a foul out to the catcher ended the game 6-5.
Villanova will return to action on Wednesday April 24th against Princeton at Villanova Ballpark with first pitch slated at 3:00 p.m.
