VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova was defeated 8-4 by Xavier in the first game of the BIG EAST series on Friday afternoon at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The Musketeers had a strong start building on a slow growing lead in the early innings. The Wildcats attempted a comeback effort but only managed to cut Xavier's lead in half to end the competition.
Senior centerfielder
AJ Hansen smashed two RBI home run over the left wall in the bottom of the sixth to get the 'Cats on the board. Graduate shortstop
Craig Larsen demolished a leadoff solo homer deep over the left side fence in the bottom of the ninth inning to trim the Musketeers lead to four.
Graduate pitcher
Zach Camp came in to close to the game out on the mound in the top of the eighth. He fanned one and only allowed one hit during his time on the rubber to keep the Musketeers from doing any further damage on the scoreboard.
A tough start for the 'Cats with starting pitcher
Cade Udell tossing four walks in the top of the first, two of which resulted in runs for the Musketeers to take an early 2-0 lead. Xavier added on another run in the top of the second to make it a three-run game.
The Wildcats struggled against Xavier starting pitcher Ethan Bosacker who went the distance on the day tossing the full nine with seven strikeouts and over 100 pitches to 33 batters faced. The Musketeers catcher Matthew Deprey also caught one Wildcat stealing giving Villanova trouble when they got on base.
In the top of the fourth Xavier managed to get two men on when Matt McCormick homered to right field to bring in three runs extending the lead to 6-0.
Villanova finally answered back in the bottom of the sixth with
Paul Cooke hitting a single to left center to get on, followed by Hansen going yard to plate two in favor of the 'Cats for the 6-2 score.
The Musketeers hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to create more distance in the score in the top of the seventh to make it a six-run game. Villanova replied in the bottom of the inning with
Steve Grober clipping a double into right field to score a lighting fast
Michael Whooley from first for the 8-3 result.
Villanova made a last-ditch effort in the bottom of the ninth with Larsen hitting a solo bomb over the left field wall for one more run. Villanova went down in order after Larsen to end the game in an 8-4 loss.
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return to action for game two of the series versus Xavier on Saturday April 22. First pitch is set for 1 pm. Streaming will be available on FloSports.
