SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Villanova drops game one of double header at Santa Clara 8-2 on a rainy Sunday morning. This is the second game of the series against the Broncos.
Junior second baseman,
Cameron Hassert, went 2-4 scoring one run and managing two hits on the day. In the field he also had four putouts.
AJ Hansen hit a double,
Craig Larsen singled twice, brought in a run and had an RBI, and
August Biggio also battered a runner in. Senior catcher
John Whooley threw a would-be base stealer out in the bottom of the fifth and picked off a runner at first in the bottom of the seventh.
Junior pitcher,
Devin Rivera started the game for the 'Cats on the mound pitching a total of 4.1 innings. Rivera had two punch outs, allowed six hit and five runs in his time on the hill. Rivera only allowed a run per inning from the second to the fifth.
The Wildcats have broken their own scoreless first inning streak getting a run in to start the game. Hassert singled to the shortstop and reached second on an error by the same Broncos player. Larsen was able to send Hassert home off a deep single up the middle. The Broncos answered back in the bottom of the first inning with two runs of their own by way of a sacrifice fly RBI and an error made by the Wildcats catcher to take the 2-1 lead over Villanova.
The Broncos held the 'Cats scoreless from the top of the second to the top of the seventh. With a runner on for the Broncos in the bottom of the second, Dawson Brigman doubled to right center to send Malcom Williams home from third for the 3-1 result.
The Broncos extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third with bases loaded, Williams reached first on a fielder's choice RBI with the run out at second and Coleman Brigman scoring on the play.
After a scoreless fourth innings, Santa Clara added another run to their score in the bottom of the fifth with two runners on, one on second and one on third, Jack Harnisch singled to the pitcher and the runner on third scored on the play.
A scoreless sixth inning followed with the Broncos scoring three more in the bottom of the seventh for the 8-1 lead. The 'Cats attemped at late comeback in the top of the eight with Larsen on advancing his way to third off wild pitches, Biggio cranked a deep sacrifice fly to left field to drive Larsen in to trim the Broncos lead 8-2.
The Wildcats were able to hold the Broncos off from scoring anymore runs in the bottom of the eighth but were unable to come back from the deficit in the top of the ninth.
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return for game two of their double header against Santa Clara before heading back to the east coast. Game two's first pitch is set for 2 pm PST/5 pm EST.
