PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Following a shutout victory in game one of the Sunday doubleheader, Jimmy Kingsbury (Phoenixville, Pa.) got the ball for Villanova (2-2) and carved through the Hofstra (4-4) lineup to defeat the Pride 3-1 and secure the series win. Kingsbury tossed a career-high 11 strikeouts over six innings of work while holding the Pride to three hits.
 
Game two began with minimal action as both pitchers opened up the game punching batters out while only allowing one combined hit. Kingsbury was electric from the start picking up eight strikeouts through the first four frames.
 
The Villanova bats came to life in the bottom of the fifth inning when Ryan Toohers (Florham Park, N.J.) led off with a sharp single to right center. The Wildcats stayed aggressive when rookie Cameron Hassert (Longmont, Colo.) ripped the next pitch for a single which advanced Toohers to third. Following a stolen base and a Pat O'Neill (Eagleville, Pa.) walk, the Wildcats capitalized on the opportunity when Anthony Schooley (Marlton, N.J.) manufactured a sacrifice fly plating the first run of the game. Villanova turned to small ball as Sam Margulis (Pennington, N.J.) laid down a beautiful safety squeeze to give the Wildcats an extra run.
 
Hofstra would not back down as they produced a run in the top of the sixth inning. Following a leadoff double by Nick Marrero and a single from Aidan Larkin, the Pride plated their only run on a Kingsbury wild pitch.
 
The Wildcats offense remained aggressive seeking insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Chris Rotondo (Redding, Conn.) opened the inning getting hit by a pitch and Jack O'Reilly (Villanova, Pa.) laced a single up the middle putting Wildcats on the corners. After working the count in his favor, Nick Lorusso (Monroe, Conn.) hit a sacrifice fly scoring Rotondo giving the Wildcats an insurance run.
 
Villanova turned it over to their bullpen in the seventh as Cameron Mathes (Broomall, Pa.) replaced Kingsbury. After giving up a leadoff walk, Mathes induced a 6-4-3 double play to halt the Hofstra offense. In the top of the eighth, the senior got two quick outs and worked around a double to keep the Wildcats ahead.
 
After getting the first out in the ninth, Hofstra rallied with back-to-back singles. A defensive miscue by the Wildcats allowed the baserunners to advance 90 feet. With runners in scoring position, Mathes got a groundball to third base and Nick Lorusso fired home to cut down the runner at the plate. With two outs in the ninth, the Wildcats turned to Danny Wilkinson (Scotch Plains, N.J.) who got the final out with a strikeout.
 
Aside from two victories in the home opening series, Villanova saw production on both sides of the ball. The pitching staff combined for one earned run over 18 innings while dealing 21 strikeouts. The Wildcats offense saw production from nine different batters tallying a hit over the two games. Villanova capitalized and executed on scoring opportunities with sacrifice hits and a safety squeeze.
 
The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, March 13 hosting Delaware. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 ET.
 
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