VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova (2-17) return to the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth to face off with Iona (1-15) starting on Friday, March 24 with first pitch at 3:00 p.m. Game two of the series will start at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and the series will conclude Sunday with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch. Fans can watch all three games on FloSports and follow the live stats.

 
Projected Starters:
Friday, March 24 | 3:00 p.m. | Watch | Live Stats
Villanova: Chic DeGaetano
Iona: Teo Torrado
 
Saturday, March 25 | 1:00 p.m. | Watch |  Live Stats
Villanova: Devin Rivera
Iona: Nick Chiaia
 
Sunday, March 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Watch | Live Stats
Villanova: Sal Fusco
Iona: TBA

 
Long Time No See: This series will mark the eighth time that Villanova and Iona have faced off with one another dating back to 1984. The Wildcats lead the Gaels 6-1 all-time. Villanova has won the last three games at home against Iona with the last matchup occurring on March 9, 2013 for a double header. The Wildcats claimed the series, taking the first game 5-2 and the second 3-1 at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The only time the Gaels beat out the 'Cats was in 2011 at home in a 13-3 result. The Wildcat's now three-game all-time winning streak over Iona hopes to be improved in the upcoming series.

Last Time Out: Villanova is coming off a close 4-3 loss to Bucknell on Tuesday, March 21. After taking a two-run lead in the top of the first, the Bison made a late comeback in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game 3-3 before taking a one run lead in the bottom of the seventh and holding onto it for the remainder of the game.

Stepping Up To The Plate: At Bucknell in their midweek match up, junior second baseman Cameron Hassert hit a two-run dinger in the top of the first bringing in center fielder AJ Hansen on the deep bomb over the right field wall. Graduate shortstop Craig Larsen also brought in a run when he singled to right field for the 'Cats third run of the game in the top of the sixth.

Got 'Em: Senior catcher John Whooley leads the Wildcats in catching eight would-be base stealers on the season. Graduate pitcher Zach Camp had a big pickoff in the first play of the top of the 10^th versus Rider in game one of the series. Camp slickly picked off the curtesy runner that was placed at second in extra innings when he took just too big a lead off the bag and Hassert made the tag.


Getting To Know The Gaels

• Iona enters the series after falling to Saint Joseph's over the past weekend and Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday, March 22. The Gaels lost all three games to the Hawks, two of which did not make it the full nine innings. At Fairleigh Dickinson, Iona had a close game with the Knights just outlasting them in a 5-4 loss.
• Senior utility Jake Fields is the leading man to watch on the Iona offense. Fields has started all 16 games and is slashing .321/.429/.518. He leads the Gaels in hits (18), RBI (11) and doubles (6). Fields has also scored seven runs, hit one triple, one home run, and stolen one base on the season so far. In the field he has made 88 putouts, four assists, and only two errors.
• Graduate outfielder Will Jennings is also a key member of the Gaels offense having started 14 of the 16 games this season. The graduate student has gone 12-for-47, slashing .255/.375/.447 and hitting three doubles and two home runs, with five RBI and six runs. In the outfield he has made 24 putouts and two errors.
• Graduate pitcher Teo Torrado and sophomore right-hander Nick Chiaia headline the starting rotation for the Gaels. So far this season, Torrado has started in five games with an ERA of 7.26 over 18.1 innings and batters are averaging .239 against him. Torrado has struck out 17, walked 15 and allowed 17 hits and 15 runs. Chiaia has also started in five games with an ERA of 11.48 over 13.1 innings and batters are averaging .382 against him. Chiaia has struck out nine, walked eight and yielded 21 hits and 17 runs.

 
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