PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Villanova picked up its third shutout win of the season, taking down Fordham 8-0 at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth on Tuesday afternoon.
The victory snaps a four-game non-conference losing skid for Villanova (19-27-1). The Wildcats held Fordham (16-33) to three hits in the contest, the fewest allowed by an opponents since St. John's scattered three hits on April 29. That is the second-fewest hits allowed this season.
Villanova used four pitchers in the win, led by
Chic DeGaetano (4-0) who threw five scoreless innings in his ninth starting appearance, marking his second combined shutout on the year. He gave off two hits and struck out four. The junior hurler is now tied for fourth on the program's single-season combined shutouts list and is tie for 14
th on the career list.
Devin Reivera's two relief innings mark his third on this year, tying him for first on the single-season ledger and is tie for third in his career. Both
Cade Udell and
Patrick Montfort threw an innings each without a hit allowed. All four pitchers combined for seven strikeouts.
Jack O'Reilly was one of two Wildcats to have a multi-hit day, going 2-for-5 with both hits being doubles. He scored a run while driving in two.
Joey Castellanos turned in a 3-for-5 outing with a run scored.
Pat O'Neill had two RBI in his 1-for-3 day from the dish.
Villanova came out bats ablaze in the bottom of the first, posting a five spot to create early distance.
Back-to-back singles from
Chris Rotondo and Castellanos placed runners on for
O'Reilly. He put down a double to left center, sending both 'Cats racing home. With the bases loaded on a hit by pitch to
Josue Valdez and a base hit for
Cameron Hassert, O'Neill sent a bloop single to right center to score O'Reilly and Valdez, doubling the score at 4-0.
Matt Pinone, the designated hitter, added onto the lead with a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Hassert for a 5-0 lead.
Zach Selinger sent a danger shot deep to center but Rotondo made a big-time catch at the wall to stop the chance. It took the Rams until the third inning to get a base runner on with a lead-off walk worked by Jack Harnisch. He made it all the way to third but was stranded.
Fordham got another runner deep into scoring position thanks to a Selinger triple to right center with two outs on the board in the top of the fourth. Nothing came of his positioning as a groundout ended the frame.
Villanova tacked on insurance in the fourth, starting with a costly error by the Rams.
Rotondo reached on a walk but ended up at third on a steal of second and advancing on a groundout. Valdez sent a shot toward the shortstop C.J. Vazquez who bobbled the ball, allowing Valdez to reach and giving Rotondo an easy run home for a 6-0 lead. Later on, a bases-loaded, five-pitch walk to
August Biggio brought in another run, making it a 7-0 advantage for the 'Cats.
Leading off in the bottom of the seventh,
AJ Hansen reached on a throwing error by the shortstop Selinger, able to advance to second on the failed play and shifting to third on a groundout.
Connor Hale put down a fielder's choice to third that he reached safely on with the throw home to get Hansen being just late, pushing the Villanova lead up to 8-0.
The Rams looked to cut into the lead in the eighth with two runners on first and second thanks to back-to-back walks to open the frame. Jake Guercio grounded into a double play, moving Diego Prieto to third. Nico Boza worked a five-pitch walk to put runners on the corners for Jason Coules, but he was sent down swinging by Udell.
Villanova had a chance to add on more runs as the scorecard flipped with three consecutive walks filling the bases with two outs. That chance came up empty as a groundout sent the contest into the ninth where Montfort and the 'Cats defense sat the Rams down in order.
One final home series in the regular season remains for the 'Cats as Creighton comes to town for a three-game stint starting Thursday. Frist pitch on Thursday and Friday is set for 3 p.m. while Saturday's Senior Day game is slated to start at 11 a.m.
