PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Villanova (2-16) and Rider (13-6) were back in action for a Saturday morning double header at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. Rider took the first game 11-3 in seven innings and the second 4-0 in a full nine.
 
Sophomore catcher Josue Valdez went 1-2 in the first game of the double header scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore right fielder Shane Solari went 2-3 in the first game as well as batting in runner off a single to center field. In the second game Solari went 2-4 clipping a double. Graduate third baseman Steve Grober also chit a double in the second game of the double header.
 
Game two's starting pitcher Devin Rivera had a strong day on the mound. Rivera tossed for a total of 5.0 innings striking out one and allowing three runs in over 20 batters faced. Graduate pitcher Stephen Turzai, came in to relieve Rivera in the second game, stayed on the hill for 2.2 innings fanning three and not allowing any runs scored.
 
The first game of the day began with Rider scoring in the top of the first off a single to left field to take the lead. The 'Cats were unable to answer due to the crafty veteran pitcher Frank Doelling who took the hill for the Broncs for the first 5.0 innings of the game. Doelling issued four punchouts over the course of his time on the mound and only allowed in one run on the day which earned him the win.
 
Graduate pitcher Sal Fusco who started the game for the 'Cats held the Broncs off for the second and third innings where no runs were scored on either side.
 
The fireworks came out in the top of the fourth for Rider with Brendan O'Donnell smashing a homer to left field and Scott Shaw following with a grand slam to extend the Broncs lead 6-0 over the 'Cats.
 
Fusco began to fade a bit in the top of the fifth walking two and throwing two wild pitches, one wild pitch resulted in a run scored by the Broncs for the 7-0 advantage. The 'Cats finally rallied in the bottom of the inning with the bases loaded AJ Hansen hit an RBI ground out to send Valdez home on the play to get Villanova on the board.
 
Rider continued on their hitting streak in the sixth with Luke Lesch crushing a homer driving in two more runs for the Broncs making the score 10-1. Villanova answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded Valdez walked allowing Craig Larsen to touch home plate followed by Solari singling to center field to send John Whooley home from third resulting in a 10-3 game.
 
The Broncs tacked on one last run in the top of the seventh off a sacrifice fly to end the seven inning game 11-3.
 
The Wildcats tightened things up going into game two of the double header with some new faces on the field. Freshman infielder Michael Whooley made his first career appearance in the field at second and graduate catcher Will Reiner entered the game behind the plate.
 
Rider was left scoreless in the first inning after a magnificent diving catch by Paul Cooke in left field ended the inning. Two more scoreless three innings followed with the Broncs to make the first move on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth. Scott Shaw who hit the grand slam in the previous game homered again deep down the right field line for the first run of the game.
 
The Broncs rallied two more runs after a big home run from O'Donnell to bring in Lesch on the hit. Rider extended their lead 3-0 at the end of the fifth.
 
Rider scored their last run late in the top of the ninth off a wild pitch. Villanova had a total of eight hits in the competition getting multiple players into scoring position but just couldn't rally any runs taking the 4-0 loss and the series loss to Rider.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return to action for a quick midweek game against Bison on March 21 at Bucknell. Game one first pitch is set for 3 pm.