PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Villanova (3-19) and Iona (4-16) were back in action for a Sunday afternoon double header at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. Iona took the first game in a close 4-3 in the ninth, in extra innings of a scheduled seven and took the second 8-2 in seven.
 
Junior second baseman Cam Hassert smashed a game tying solo homer the first game of the double header in the bottom of the seventh to push the seven-inning game into extra innings. In game two, graduate shortstop Craig Larsen crushed an RBI double to drive in teammate Paul Cooke. In the same game, John Whooley, in the designated hitter position, singled to left field to drive in Larsen.
 
Game one's starting pitcher Devin Rivera a day of season highs. Rivera tossed for a total of 7.0 innings striking out six both season highs. During his time on the bump, he only allowed two runs in over 27 batters faced. Game two's best effort on the mound came from senior pitcher Brandon Siegenthaler, who appeared in his first game of the season after coming back from an injury. Siegenthaler came in to relieve Stephen Turzai and stayed on the hill for 1.0 inning where he fanned two and yielded one run scored.
 
Both starting pitchers for teams, Rivera for the Wildcats and Nick Chiaia for the Gaels were strong and didn't allow any runs to be scored on either side for the first two innings of the game one. Chiaia pitched for 3.0 innings and fanned two and allowed only two hits and no runs scored.
 
Iona was first to get on the board after Josiah Ragsdale smashed a RBI triple to right center field to bring in a teammate for the first run of the game. Ragsdale was then sent home on the following play by Jake Field for the 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Villanova was able to get one on but couldn't rally any runs. Rivera didn't allow any more runs to be scored the rest of his time on the mound.
 
Villanova made it on the board in the bottom of the sixth after Whooley singled through the right side to bring in Hassert for the Wildcats first run making it a one run game. The game was scheduled for seven innings and in the bottom of the seventh Hassert demolished a homer over the right center wall for a solo home run and the tying run of the game. This forced a seven innings game to go into extra innings.
 
The top of the eight had Field strike again with a single to center field to bring in the curtesy runner for the 3-2 lead. Villanova answered back in the bottom of the inning when Peter Giombetti hit a ground out RBI to bring in Michael Whooley to tie things up once again 3-3.
 
Chris Mariani lifted a sacrifice fly RBI to center field to bring home the curtesy runner for the winning run in the top of the ninth. The 'Cats were unable to answer and dropped the first game 4-3 to Iona.
The second game of the day began with Iona scoring in the top of the first off, a sacrifice fly to right field to take the lead. The 'Cats were unable to answer due to the strong Gaels defense behind starting pitcher Clark Eder.
 
Iona tacked on another run in the top of the second off a tough hit to the pitcher with the bases loaded to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Gaels.
 
The top of the third also resulted in multiple runs for Iona with one on, Luca Lotito creamed a double to left field to score the man on. Anthony Febo smacked a sacrifice fly RBI to left field to drive Lotito in for the 4-0 result. The 'Cats answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning when Larsen smashed an RBI double to left field to drive Cooke in from second. The following play resulted hit resulted in Larsen being brought in when Whooley singled to left field making it a two-run game.
 
The Gaels rallied one run in the top of the fourth, another in the top of the second, and two more in the top of the seventh, all of which were unanswered by the Wildcats, for the 8-2 victory. Iona took the series over Villanova winnings two of the three games.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return to action for a quick midweek game against the Mountain Hawks for the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic on March 28 at Lehigh. First pitch is set for 3 pm.