JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A back and forth game between Villanova and North Florida (UNF) ends early due to 3 pm cutoff. The Wildcats just came up short after UNF outfielder hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh earlier this afternoon at Harmon Stadium. Villanova didn't have enough time to come back before the game was abruptly ended in the middle of the top of the eighth resulting in a final score of 9-7 in favor of the Osprey.

Villanova (1-5) starts their sixth game in a row with a scoreless first inning with Sal Fusco returning to start for the Wildcats for the second time in the series against UNF (4-4). Once again, the Wildcats were the first to strike blood on the board after August Biggio kicked off the top of the second with a double followed by Luke Mutz getting walked. Craig Larsen stepped up to the plate and singled to left center field with two on and two out to send Biggio home.
 
The Osprey answered in the bottom of the second with a home run hit by Dallen Leach to tie the score 1-1. Fusco, one of the seven pitchers used in today's contest by Villanova, tossed three strikeouts in the first two innings.
 
The Wildcats were scoreless in the third and Zach Camp came in to pitch for Fusco in the bottom of the inning. Camp walked the first batter, Aidan Sweatt, followed by Austin Brinling clipping a double deep down the right line with Sweatt booking it home to take the 2-1 lead over the 'Cats. The next two batters grounded out with Brinling sneaking a run home during the outings to further the Osprey lead, 3-1 heading into the fourth.
 
John Whooley hit a led off single to start the top of the fourth. Mutz hammered the ball over the right field wall for a two-run homer to equalize the score 3-3. Camp and the infield made quick work of the Osprey in the bottom of the fourth only allowing one hit and no runs.
 
UNF made a pitching change to start the top of the fifth taking out starter Avery Love and replacing him with Dominick Madonna. Madonna gave the Wildcats a lot of difficulty at the plate with his arsenal of pitches. Madonna's breaking ball was particularly challenging to get a hold of for the 'Cats and were unable to rally in the inning. Similarly, Villanova made a pitching change of their own sending Cole Vanderslice in from the bullpen. It was not Vanderslice's day as he gave up two hits without any strikeouts in just 0.2 innings pitched including a two-run homer hit by Cherokee Nichols. Stephen Turzai made his way to the mound to finish out the half inning striking out the last batter. The Osprey were in the lead once again 5-3.
 
Mutz got on base by a walk in the top of the sixth followed by a nice single through the left side by Larsen to have two men on. Jack O'Reilly came up and hit an RBI single up the middle closing the scoring gap 5-4. The Osprey denied any more runs to be scored in the top of the inning. Turzai struck out one before Cabot Maher stepped up to the hill. With the strong defense behind him the score remained the same.
 
Lance Bolton began the seventh on the mound for UNF with a reputation of working well in relief. Bolton struck out three of the four batters to face him allowing only one hit and no runs.
 
The Wildcats pitching staff struggled in the bottom of the seventh. Maher hit a total of three batters by pitch, the last of which led off for the Osprey to begin the half inning. Maher tossed one strikeout and was replaced by Luke Matta. Matta also had a tough time on the mound. He inherited on runner on, the next batter hit a single and then Matta walked the one. With three runners on Cade Reich hit a grand slam to extend the Osprey lead 9-4. Villanova made another call to the bullpen and had Michael Whooley, brother of catcher John, come in to pitch. Whooley was able to get the 'Cats out of the inning in his first collegiate appearance.
 
Down by five, the Wildcats were in dire need of some runs, or the Osprey would run away with the game. Mutz walked for the fourth time of the game to get on base. O'Reilly got on due to a field error by the shortstop. With two on and two out, Cameron Hassert hit a bomb over the center field wall for a three-run dinger making it a two-run game (9-7).
 
Unfortunately, due to a hard travel curfew of 3 pm for the Wildcats the game was forced to end in after Hasserts hit in the bottom of the eighth. The final score was 9-7 in favor of the Osprey.
 
The 'Cats return on Wednesday March 1 for a quick mid-week game against the Tigers in Towson, Md. First pitch is set for 2 pm.