PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – A four-run rally with two outs in the seventh inning lifted the Villanova University baseball team to a 9-2 win over Georgetown on Saturday afternoon (April 5) at Villanova Ballpark. After trailing for most of the game, the Wildcats scored off of an RBI single by
Josue Valdez, two wild pitches, and another RBI base hit by
Trent Toole to take a three-run lead in the seventh.
Jason Neff powered his 11th home run of the season over the left field wall in the eighth inning, capping off a two-hit, two-RBI day. Valdez, left fielder
JoJo Montgomery, and third baseman
Tyler Shaw also recorded multi-hit games.
On the mound, Villanova (16-13, 1-1 BIG EAST) starter
Jake Francis made the longest appearance of his career with seven full innings of two-run ball. The right-hander struck out four and earned his team-best fifth win of the season.
Alec Sachais pitched the final two innings, surrendering only one hit and no runs to earn the save.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, a two-out triple in the top of the second inning scored two runs for the Hoyas (11-18, 1-1 BIG EAST).
Francis and Georgetown starter Derek Yoo were masterful throughout the rest of the early and middle innings, holding both teams scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Then, Montgomery drove in Valdez with an RBI single to pull the Wildcats within one.
With runners on the corners and two outs in the seventh, Valdez laced a single into center field to score Shaw from third and tie the game. Second baseman
Brayden Leonard walked to load the bases, forcing Georgetown to make a pitching change from Jake Anderson to Andrew Citron.
Citron's first pitch to Toole went all the way to the backstop, scoring Neff and giving the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. The count grew to 2-2 before Citron threw another wild pitch that scored Valdez. With a full count, Toole drove an RBI single into center field to score Leonard. By the end of the inning, the 'Cats had a 5-2 lead.
Sachais held the Hoyas scoreless in the top of the eighth. In the bottom half of the frame, a pair of singles and a throwing error put runners on second and third with one out for
Michael Whooley. He hit a ground ball to the third baseman that was mishandled, scoring two more runs for Villanova. Then, Neff hit a two-run long ball, bringing the Wildcats' lead to 9-2.
Sachais set Georgetown down 1-2-3 in the ninth, completing the save. Francis improved to 5-0 on the season with the win, while Anderson fell to 0-3 with the loss.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Neff's 11 home runs just over halfway through the season tie Scott Shaw's 2024 season total, which led the team.
- Whooley is currently on a five-game hit steak. It is his second hit streak of five games or more this season.
- Francis leads the Wildcats in ERA (3.35), WHIP (1.14) and wins (5).
- Sachais has given up only one run over his last three appearances.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will face Georgetown in a rubber match on Sunday (April 6) at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on FloSports.
