PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – A five run fifth inning ignited the Villanova offense completed with an eight run eighth inning took the victory over Georgetown in the second game of the BIG EAST series 15-4. Strong pitching from the Wildcats starter and bullpen held the lead as well as multi-hit and multi-run day for the 'Cats at bat.
 
Every Wildcat to step up to the plate was able to rally at least one hit on the day with all but one crossing the plate at least once. Graduate shortstop Craig Larsen, freshman second baseman Michael Whooley, and graduate left fielder Paul Cooke were the driving force being the Wildcats offense with each having a multi-hit, multi-run game. Larsen has been a consistent hitter for the 'Cats and went 2-for-5 in the game with a double and three RBI. Whooley went 3-for-3 in the outing with one RBI and two walks. This marked the freshman's fourth start on the season making five assists in the game after having to step up for the team at second base. Cooke went 2-for-3 on the day hitting a big two run homer in the bottom of the eight to kick off the Wildcat run rampage. Cooke also had three RBI his season high.

Starting pitcher Devin Rivera was on fire during his 5.0 innings pitched to earn his first win of the season. Rivera fanned six to 21 batters faced and only allowed in one earned run and four hits. Rivera kept the Hoyas scoreless for three of the five innings he was on the mound.
 
Georgetown was the first to make a move on the scoreboard with Angelo D'Acunto hitting an RBI double to left field to score teammate Michael Eze from second to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
 
Villanova answered back in the bottom of the third with an equalizer with a strong RBI single clipped by M. Whooley to left field to drive in Josue Valdez from second. The Hoyas counted with almost the exact play in the top of the fourth with a RBI single by Jake Hyde up the middle to score Ubaldo Lopez from second regaining Georgetown's lead, 2-1.
 
The Wildcats went off in the fifth inning slug fest to tally five runs. M. Whooley and Cooke were able to get on with a single apiece to have runners at first and second. Centerfielder AJ Hansen laid down a bunt that moved the runners and was safe after beating out the throw to first to load up the bases. First baseman Jack O'Reilly stepped up to the plate for a big single to left field to bring in Whooley and advance the runners. Still with the bases loaded Larsen smashed a doubled into deep right center field to clear the bases of the previous runners and advance to third during the mayhem. Right fielder Shane Solari brought Larsen home on an ground out to end the inning with a 6-2 score.
 
Graduate pitcher Stephen Turzai took the mound to retire Rivera after five innings and fanned two Hoyas to end the top of the sixth. Villanova managed to get a few runners on but couldn't rally any runs in the sixth.
 
Turzai added two more punchouts before allowing one run in off a double to center field by Austin Kretzchmar to trim the Wildcats lead to 6-3 in the top of the seventh. Villanova answered back with run of their own off an odd infield fly double play in the bottom of the inning returning the score to a four-run game.
 
Junior pitcher Cade Udell stepped in for the 'Cats on the mound to kick off the eighth and the Villanova defense made quick work of the Hoyas offense.
 
The Wildcats were nowhere close to done tacking on runs to the scoreboard as the bottom of the eight came around. M. Whooley started things off with a leadoff single to left center field and was immediately brought home by Cooke who crushed a homer to center field on the following play. Villanova extended their lead to 9-3. Hansen, O'Reilly, and Larsen loaded up the bases by way of walk, O'Reilly by HPB. John Whooley, the designated hitter, drove in a three-run double to clear the bases and put himself into scoring position. Villanova's ever-growing lead amassed to 12-3 when third baseman Steve Grober singled to have Whooley touch home. The struggling pitching staff of Georgetown allowed in two more runs through walks and hit by pitch to have the 'Cats end the eighth with a 15-3 score. The Hoyas dove deep into their bullpen in the inning using four pitchers in the bottom of the eighth alone.
 
Senior pitcher Cole Vanderslice closed out the game for the Wildcats in the top of the ninth allowing in one run off a solid single up the middle to end the game 15-4.
 
Head coach Kevin Mulvey commented on their first BIG EAST victory of the season and what they want to do for the next game in the series.
 
"I'm extremely proud of the guys to stay locked in with some extracurricular activity going on around them. I think that they kept their cool better than their head coach did, and I'm very proud of that. A great team win," said Mulvey. "I'm very impressed with the offense's effort during the first two games of this series. Very proud of the way we bounced back on the mound through strikes, attacked hitters, and we made them beat us today. I thought that everybody did a great job on the mound today to give us a great chance to win. Overall, very proud of the effort and if we could mimic what we did today, tomorrow, then I think we have a good chance to win the series."
 
Assistant and pitching coach Jabin Weaver offered some insight into how the Villanova pitching staff has been developing throughout the season and what they expect in the future.
 
"Staying consistent, trusting themselves and just trying to give them confidence in every game they get a little bit better. With each game they continue to build a lot more confidence. I think they're really starting to trust themselves and they stayed really locked in," said Weaver. "Yesterday, even with the loss, they stayed really locked in. They watched the offense on the other side and they knew what they needed to do to come in. We talked about it quickly this morning and they came out and they absolutely did a great job. I'm so happy for Devin and those guys. Devin, in particular has been pitching so awesome lately. Doesn't have a ton of show for it, but he did today. I'm so happy for him and I can't wait for tomorrow."
 

UP NEXT: The 'Cats return to action tomorrow on Saturday, April 2 for the series finale versus Georgetown. First pitch is set for 12:00 pm.
 
 
Player Quotes:
"It's great knowing that I have a good defense behind me and people that are going to make plays, so it makes it easier to just fill up the strike zone and have people make the plays for me and allows me to relax on the mound a bit." – #19 Devin Rivera (pitcher)
 
"So that one at bat in the fifth inning there, loaded up the bases and we were trying to play good strong team baseball to elevate our game. Whether that's getting a sacrifice fly to get a run in or hit a fast ball into the gap, whatever works to get the job done to get the win. It's really all about the team approach, trying to be smart at bat and on the base path to get a runs in." - #16 Craig Larsen (shortstop)
 
"It was tough at first because it's a whole different game at this level [compared to high school]. It's a lot faster, it's a lot more competitive, a lot better players out here. But as soon as I got that first hit, the whole game just slowed down for me and I've just been trying to stay within myself, do my thing, play like I play, like I know I can. And I think that's what I've been doing. I've been doing it any way possible. Two strikes, finding the gap, some hard hits, whatever works. It's Big East play now, so it's time to get some wins." - #13 Michael Whooley (second baseman)