PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – After a six-run opening inning by Georgetown, the Wildcats could not rally a run until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Hoyas thrived on a small ball strategy throughout the game, mainly moving runner with singles into the gaps to get ahead and heads up base running. Due to the wind, only one ball was able to clear the fence on the day making it a big obstacle for both teams. Villanova fell 11-1 to the Hoyas after a full nine inning game on Sunday afternoon.
Graduate catcher
Will Reiner went 1-for-3 on the day, getting walked once, and the only 'Cat to cross home plate on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth. Graduate left fielder
Paul Cooke was also patient at bat getting walked twice and making the pitchers work while he was on the base path. Both Reiner and Cooke were without any strikeouts throughout the game.
Graduate pitcher
Sal Fusco made an appearance in the top of the second to replace senior starter
Brandon Siegenthaler on the mound. On the bump, Fusco had six punchouts over 3.2 innings pitched and only allowed in three runs. Senior pitcher,
Patrick Montfort came into the game as relief and tossed for a total of 1.1 innings. During his stint on the mound, Montfort fanned three and didn't allow the Hoyas any runs in.
The Hoyas had a huge first innings tallying six runs to take a substantial lead to kick off the series finale. Georgetown was so strong in hitting the gaps and had such speed on the base path it was difficult first inning to defend for the 'Cats. The Hoyas hit two singles, one double, and a triple before their time at bat was through with a 6-0 score.
Austin Kretzchmar started the top of the second with a leadoff double followed by Ubaldo Lopez taking a walk and Jake Hyde scoring Kretzchmar from second off a single through the left side. Michael Eze singled to the shortstop on a slow roller, beat out the throw and sent Lopez home for the 8-0 lead.
Fusco was able to calm down the Hoyas offense fanning two in the top of the third, one in the top of the fourth, and another in the top of the fifth. Fusco didn't make it off the mound unscathed due to big homer to right field by Owen Carapellotti to extend the Hoyas lead to 9-0 in the top of the fourth.
Villanova finally answered back with one run of their own. Reiner hit a leadoff single to right field and advanced to second on a wild pitch on the following at bat. With one down Reiner took third on a wild pitch, while Cooke walked to have men on the corners. Reiner touched home on yet another wild pitch to bring in the 'Cats only run of the game for a 9-1 score.
Both teams remained scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. The Hoyas added a run onto their score in the top of the eighth off a double to left field making it a 10-1 game and closed the book on the game with their eleventh run in the top of the ninth off an RBI groundout.
Georgetown's starting pitcher, Jake Bloss was a powerhouse on the mound, batters were facing pitches that ranged between 93 and 95 mph when they stepped up to the plate. Bloss tossed for 5.2 innings and struck out seven to 24 batters faced. He allowed only five hits and one run in and walked only three during his time on the hill.
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return to action on Tuesday, April 4 for the Liberty Bell Classic semifinals where Villanova hosts Rider. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.
