JOHNSON CITY, TN– Wildcats hit five home runs in Tennessee to defeat East Tennessee 15-8.
The Wildcats and Bucs had a back-and-forth game going as every time a team scored, the other seemed to respond right away with runs of their own. Going into the seventh inning, Villanova was up 11-8. East Tennessee had just battled back from down 11-5 and it was setting up to be a great finish. The Wildcats however had different plans as a two-run home run in the seventh would be the back breaker for the Bucs. Another home run and a doubled scored two more in the ninth for Villanova giving them a comfortable 15-8 victory.
Nova Notes
- The Wildcats jacked their most home runs in a game this season with five in the game. The home runs came courtesy of Connor Hale, Colin Quintano, Scott Shaw, Jack O'Reilly and another by Quintano.
- Colin Quintano hit two home runs on the day and becomes the first Wildcat this season with two in one game.
- Jack O'Reilly hit a home run for the second game in a row. This gives him a team leading five homers on the year.
- Cade Udell closed for Villanova and pitched two innings allowing one hit and no runs.
How It Happened
- Jason Neff doubled to right center in the first inning and scored Scot Shaw, 1-0.
- A home run and ground out scored two for the Bucs in the first, 2-1.
- Connor Hale homered to right field, 2-2 in the second.
- Two hit by pitches in the third inning scored two more runs for the Wildcats, 4-2.
- Aidan Barry scored on a wild pitch and Colin Quintano scored on a single by AJ Hansen, 6-2 in the fourth.
- Two doubles and a ground out scored three runs for the Bucs in the fourth, 6-5.
- Colin Quintano and Scott Shaw went back-to-back hitting home runs in the fifth, 11-5 Wildcats.
- Blake Jacklin scored on throwing error in the bottom of the fifth, 11-6.
- Noah Gent hit a two-run home run in the sixth, 11-8.
- In the seventh Jack O'Reilly hit a two-run home run, 13-8.
- Colin Quintano homered to left field in the ninth, 14-8.
- Jack O'Reilly doubled down the right field line scoring AJ Hansen, 15-8.
Up Next
The Wildcats will have their first home game of the season this Wednesday, March 20 against Saint Peter's.