PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – In its final weekend series before conference play, the Villanova University baseball team will host the visiting LIU Sharks in a three-game series this weekend (March 28-30) at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth.
QUICK HITTERS
- The Wildcats will host LIU in a three-game series in their final series before BIG EAST season.
- Villanova is 7-4 all-time against the Sharks. The teams last played in a three-game series in 2019, which LIU swept.
- The Wildcats have scored 10 runs and hit at least two home runs in three straight games. They have 35 hits and 32 runs over that stretch.
- Villanova has tallied at least 10 runs in 10 of 23 games.
- The 'Cats are 11-1 when they score seven or more runs this season.
- Infielder Michael Whooley has recorded a hit in 12 of his last 13 games. He went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple in Tuesday's win over Delaware State (March 25).
- Freshman JoJo Montgomery is slashing .435 (10-for-23) over his last six games. He has five stolen bases and four runs scored over that stretch, and went 4-for-4 and 3-for-3 in his last two Sunday games, respectively.
THE NEFF NOTES
Catcher
Jason Neff's recent play has vaulted him towards the top of the national rankings in several key hitting categories. In the last week, Neff fueled the Villanova offense to back-to-back 10-run games. On Saturday, he hit two home runs for the second time this season and recorded a career-high six RBI. Then, on Sunday, he hit a two-run home run en route to a 10-5 win over reigning Southern Conference champion Wofford. Neff was named to the BIG EAST weekly honor roll for his stellar play. As of Monday (March 24), Neff was tied for 22nd in all of Division I in home runs (9), tied for 38th in RBI (32) and ranked 41st in slugging percentage (.769). Neff's strong power numbers will be key to keeping the Villanova offense rolling into conference play.
'CATS RUNNING WILD
The Wildcats have been more aggressive on the basepaths this season, and the new strategy has paid off thus far. Less than halfway through the season, Villanova has already stolen 37 bases. This is nearly two-thirds of the team's 2024 season total of 60, and eclipses Villanova's total from the previous two seasons by a wide margin (30, 29). Freshman
JoJo Montgomery is leading the team with eight swiped bags, with first baseman
Aidan Barry close behind with seven. Montgomery, Barry and center fielder
Connor Hale have combined for 20 stolen bases this season and have only been caught stealing two times among them.
LIU AT A GLANCE
The Sharks enter the weekend having won five of their last six games to improve to an 11-14 overall record. At the plate, they are led by catcher Jack Power, who has lived up to his name with a team-high nine home runs. On the mound, closer Evan Panjwani has been dominant. Opponents are hitting a mere 0.74 against Panjwani en route to three saves on the season.
The first of three games will be played on Friday (March 27) at 3 p.m. ET. All three games will be streamed live on FloSports.
