BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A back and forth game between Villanova and Lehigh ends in a huge 9-7 win to secure a spot for the Wildcats in the Liberty Bell Classic semifinals. Villanova didn't allow Lehigh to take the lead at any point in the game and battled to victory on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Senior centerfield AJ Hansen had a standout performance on the day going 3-for-5 hitting a RBI double and scoring a run for the 'Cats. He also made a huge play in the outfield to throw a runner out at home who could have taken the lead for Lehigh.
 
The three graduate students Peter Giombetti, Paul Cooke, and Craig Larsen each played big roles to get the 'Cats on the board. Giombetti, the designated hitter, had three hits, two RBI, and scored a run on the day. Cooke, the left fielder, also had three hits, one RBI, and scored two runs. Larsen, the shortstop, hit the winning run and went 3-for-6 with two RBI and one run scored.
 
A big day for freshman second baseman Michael Whooley who had his first career hit in the top of the second to drive in a run and his first career double in the top of the sixth down the left line to lead off. 
 
A slow start with nothing across for either team throughout the first inning. Villanova got the going with a three-lead start. With two on and one out, Cooke drives a nice single into right field to bring Shane Solari in for the first run of the game. Whooley follows with a single up the middle to drive Josue Valdez in for their second run. After a Lehigh pitching change Hansen smashes a double left field sending Cooke in to take an early 3-0 lead over the Mountain Hawks. Cole Vanderslice, who started the game for the 'Cats, and the Villanova defense made quick work of Lehigh not allowing a hit or run in to close out the second inning.
 
Lehigh countered Villanova's lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI single hit by Riley Davis, and two RBI ground outs to score the game tying run resulting in a 3-3 game.
 
A scoreless fourth inning transitioned into the top of the fifth where the Wildcats add to their lead with the bases loaded, Valdez walked and sent a runner in to score. Three up, three down for the Mountain Hawks to end the fifth with a 4-3 score.
 
Villanova extended their lead even further in the top of the sixth when Jack O'Reilly hit a ground out RBI to bring Whooley home from third. Giombetti scored Hansen on an RBI single to center field to end the top of the inning 6-3. Lehigh responded with a leadoff homer from Casey Rother over the left field wall and later in the half inning Dom Patrizi hit an RBI single to trim the Wildcats lead to 6-5.
 
After a scoreless seventh inning the 'Cats tacked on another run with Larsen being smart on the bases to score on a wild pitch making it a two-run game. The Mountain Hawks answered back to equalize the score with back-to-back RBI single and RBI double to tie the game 7-7. Hansen had a huge play to in the outfield by making a great throw to Valdez who tagged out the go-ahead run at the plate.
 
Villanova hit back-to-back RBI in the top of the ninth to take the lead.  With two outs Larsen steps up to the plate, two men on, and hits the lead taking run in to the left side. Giombetti singles up the middle on the following play to bring in another run for the 9-7 score. Junior pitcher Cade Udell came in to close the game out and strikes out the last batter to punch the Wildcats ticket to the Liberty Bell Classic semifinals.
 
The Wildcats will host the next round of the Liberty Bell Classic at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth on April 4 at 3 pm.

UP NEXT: The 'Cats return to action on March 31 for the BIG EAST opening three-game series versus Georgetown. First pitch is set for 3 pm on Friday.