PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Villanova hosted Saint Joseph's on Tuesday afternoon for a Big 5 midweek matchup at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. Both teams utilized a total of 15 pitchers on the day. The Hawks took an early 4-0 lead, but the Wildcats worked their way back to tie the game at four in the bottom of the seventh. Steve Grober cranked a three-run homer to seal the deal on the day with the Wildcats coming out with the 8-4 win.
 
Graduate third baseman Steve Grober was the hero on the day going 3-for-4 hitting one sacrifice fly RBI and a three-run dinger to extend the lead and ultimately the win for the 'Cats. Senior first baseman Jack O'Reilly and graduate shortstop Craig Larsen also contributed to the win. O'Reilly went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Larsen hit the go ahead run off an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Wildcats made use of their bullpen with eight pitchers making an appearance on the mound. Each pitcher except for one tossed for one inning, Cabot Maher tossed for two. Cade Udell earned the win on the day managing one punchout and not allowing a hit or run in.
 
The Hawks kicked things off by loading the bases up in the top of the first and Nate Thomas crushed a grand slam to not only take the lead but also beat the Saint Joseph's career home run record with 44.
 
Neither team plated a run until the bottom of the fifth when the 'Cats got on the board with Grober hitting a two RBI single to center field. Villanova only trailed by two heading to the sixth.
 
Villanova scored again in the bottom of the seventh first with Grober hitting a sacrifice RBI and with the bases loaded Paul Cooke had a good eye at the plate and managed an RBI walk to tie the game up at 4-4.
 
The Wildcats continue to build on their momentum in the previous inning and in the bottom of the eighth AJ Hansen started things off with a double down the left field line. O'Reilly walked and Larsen singled to left field to send Hansen home from second. Grober stepped up the plate and blasted a three-run home run to extend the Wildcats lead to 8-4.
 
In the top of the ninth the Villanova defense turned a double play to get the first two outs and Connor Hale made the final catch in left field to end the game 8-4.
 
"Great game, great job by the bullpen. We went seven innings without a hit until Steven Turzai made mention of it in the dugout. And the next pitch was a hit. So we'll live with that. But it was a great win," said head coach Kevin Mulvey. "The guys fought hard, fought back, went down early, didn't pack it in, didn't cave in. Hopefully we can ride this momentum into the weekend."
 
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return to action on Thursday May 18 at Villanova Ballpark for the final BIG EAST three-game series of the regular season with Seton Hall. First pitch is set for 3 pm.
 
 
Player Quotes
"I'm feeling good. Just looking for a good pitch to hit, got a good barrel on it and help the team out. It was a great team win today. Our bullpen really shut them down. Hopefully we keep it rolling and take it into Seton Hall." #30 Steve Grober (Third baseman)
 
"We got a big weekend coming up, so it feels great to take some momentum going into it because we need three wins this weekend and it feels even better to get off against these guys. Last couple weeks we played them twice and beat us up last time and definitely had my number. So it feels great to come up big when the team needs me." #16 Craig Larsen (Shortstop)