PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA.- After traveling thousands of miles from coast to coast on an 18-day road trip, Villanova (2-9) showed no sign of fatigue in their home opener with an 11-4 rout over the Lafayette Leopards (2-10). The Wildcats collected a season-high 14 hits including three doubles to set the tone at Villanova Ballpark. Villanova is now 29-21 all-time (17-8 at home) vs. Lafayette.
 
Villanova delivered a five-run onslaught in the bottom of the second to give them an early advantage. Jack O'Reilly and Will Reiner began the inning with back-to-back singles for Villanova. Cameron Hassert cashed in with an RBI single up the middle to plate O'Reilly from second for the 1-0 lead. After Matt Pinone walked to load the bases, Will Reiner scored on the next at-bat on a Connor Hale groundout for a 2-0 lead. Chris Rotondo, Villanova's resident leadoff man, singled to left to score Hassert for a three-run lead. The Wildcats later benefitted from a dropped ball from second baseman Kyle Chmielewski that scored two before ending the inning.

The Leopards were able to get on the board in the third when Easton Brenner plated a run with an RBI single to trim Villanova's lead to 5-1.

With some small ball and execution, the Wildcats were able to score a runner in the bottom of the third. Will Reiner took advantage of the third baseman playing back and laid down a perfectly executed bunt for a single. With Reiner on first, AJ Hansen lined a double to right-center to put runners on second and third. Hassert was able to score Reiner with a groundout to pad Villanova's lead to 6-1.
 
The Leopards roared back in the top of the sixth with three runs scored off an error, balk and a groundout to put them within two runs of Villanova.

Cameron Mathes was electric in relief for the Wildcats when he was called in the sixth. The hurler tossed two and 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits.

The Wildcats were quick to counter and rattled off three runs as well when they were due up in the sixth. With a runner on third, Pinone used his quick wrists and drove an RBI double down the left field line. Later that inning, Pat O'Neill scored a runner with an RBI single to left. Villanova was able to extend their lead to 9-4 when O'Reilly drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Rotondo.

Villanova delivered the knockout blow in the bottom of the eighth when O'Neill and Joey Castellanos drove in two runs for the eventual 11-4 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Jack O'Reilly went 3-for-5 Tuesday with a double and two runs batted in.
• Cameron Hassert went 2-for-5 with two runs batted in and a stolen base. In his past two games, Hassert has gone 5-for-8 with five runs batted in.
• Eight out of nine batters in Villanova's lineup recorded a hit against Lafayette. Of those eight, five had a multi-hit day.
• Chris Rotondo extended his hitting streak to 10 games after going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases Tuesday.
• Patrick Montfort tossed a scoreless ninth inning in relief for the Wildcats.

 
Villanova returns to play Friday, March 11 for game one of their series against the NJIT Highlanders. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m.