Jason Neff
Austin Yayer
2
Coppin State CSU 1-5
12
Winner Villanova VU 4-3
Coppin State CSU
1-5
2
Final
12
Villanova VU
4-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Coppin State CSU 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 2
Villanova VU 5 0 0 2 2 1 2 12 10 1

W: Francis, Jake (1-0) L: STEPHENS,Brandon (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Neff, Whooley Stay Hot as Villanova Beats Coppin State

The two combined for four hits and four RBI in the Wildcats’ 12-2 win

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Catcher Jason Neff and third baseman Michael Whooley both stayed hot at the plate as the Villanova University baseball team defeated Coppin State, 12-2, on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 25) at Villanova Ballpark. The game was called after the Wildcats (4-3) took a 10-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Neff went 2-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and two stolen bases. He is now raking .571 (8-for-14) with three home runs and nine RBI over his last four games. Meanwhile, Whooley went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one home run by way of a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth inning. Whooley now has a home run in three straight games.
 
On the mound, Jake Francis received his first start of the season, throwing five strong innings with only one run and three hits allowed. Bobby Finn came on in relief in the top of the sixth, allowing one run but striking out four Coppin State (1-5) batters.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles opened the scoring in the top of the first after a single by Ian Anderson drove home Anthony Divittorio.
However, Villanova answered in the bottom half of the inning with a five-run onslaught. An RBI single by Whooley scored Austin Lemon, before a single by Neff drove home both Tyler Shaw and Whooley, giving the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.
 
Aidan Barry and John Freitag then each drove in runs, growing the lead for the Blue and White to 5-1 before the end of the first inning.
 
Both teams were held scoreless throughout the second and third innings. In the bottom of the fourth, center fielder Shane Solari reached on a bunt and eventually scored on a single by Lemon. Then, Shaw hit a triple into left center field to bring home Lemon and extend Villanova's lead to 7-1.
 
After Francis set down the Eagles 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth, an RBI single by Jake McElroy scored another run for the 'Cats. John Freitag hit a sacrifice fly to score McElroy, bringing the VU advantage to eight after five innings.
 
Finn relieved Francis to start the sixth inning and faced the minimum, recording a strikeout and drawing a double play. Whooley's home run in the bottom of the sixth extended Villanova's lead to 10-1.
 
Coppin State strung together three hits in the top of the seventh to score one run, but Villanova countered by scoring two runs on wild pitches in the bottom of the seventh to end the game and secure a 12-2 win.
 
Francis was awarded the win, improving to 1-0 on the season. Coppin State starter Brandon Stephens received the loss.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
  • With a single in the fourth inning, Lemon extended his hitting streak to seven games. He is the only Wildcat to record a hit in all seven games this season.
  • Despite only having six career home runs prior to the 2025 season, Whooley already has three long balls through seven games this season.
  • After today's start, Francis' WHIP improves to a team-best 0.54.
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will head to Nashville, Tenn., to face Lipscomb in a three-game series at Ken Dugan Field. The first game will be played on Friday (Feb. 28) at 4 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
Print Friendly Version