VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova University baseball team bounced back in a big way on Saturday, March 21, defeating UNC Asheville 10–4 at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth Meeting to even the weekend series.

Behind a strong outing on the mound and timely hitting, the Wildcats pulled away late to secure the win.
  ZEROES EARLY
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm at the plate early, as neither side recorded a hit or a run through the first two innings.

Graduate student Jack Kelley set the tone on the mound for Villanova, allowing just one hit through the first three innings while keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.

Villanova was equally quiet early on, going hitless through its first two trips to the plate as both teams searched for offensive momentum.
  FOUR-RUN THIRD
The Wildcats broke through in a big way in the third inning, erupting for four runs to take control of the game.

Larry Hotaling got things started by reaching base, and JoJo Montgomery followed with a double to left-center to drive him in for the game's first run. Later in the inning, Michael Whooley came through with a clutch single to left-center, bringing home both Montgomery and Austin Lemon to extend the lead.

John Freitag added to the rally with a sacrifice fly to score Brayden Leonard, capping off a four-run frame and giving Villanova a 4–0 advantage.

Villanova added another run in the fourth inning when Lemon singled and came around to score, pushing the lead to 5–0.
  KELLEY DEALING
Kelley, fresh off BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors, continued his dominant stretch on the mound.

The graduate transfer tossed five strong innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits while striking out two. With the win, Kelley improved to 2–3 on the season and extended his scoreless streak to 11 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
  BULLDOGS CLAW BACK
UNC Asheville began to chip away in the later innings, scoring once in the sixth inning before putting together a three-run seventh.

A two-run single from Blaize Johnson highlighted the rally, as the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 5–4 and put pressure on the Wildcats heading into the bottom half of the inning.
  VU RESPONDS
Villanova answered immediately with a decisive response in the bottom of the seventh.

After Jack Roventini came around to score, Brayden Leonard delivered an RBI single to extend the lead. Moments later, Carter Richey came through in a big pinch-hit opportunity, lining a two-run single into right field to bring home Whooley and Leonard.

The three-run inning gave the Wildcats breathing room once again, stretching the lead to 8–4.
  INSURANCE LATE
Villanova added insurance in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach.

After putting runners on base, Austin Lemon delivered a clutch two-run single to right field, scoring Larry Hotaling and Mark Giallusi to extend the lead to 10–4.
  LOCKING IT DOWN
JP Podgorski was dominant out of the bullpen, tossing the final 2.1 innings without allowing a hit while striking out one to close out the victory.
  NOTES

• Austin Lemon led the Wildcats with three hits and three RBIs
• Michael Whooley drove in two runs and reached base twice
• Carter Richey delivered a key two-run pinch-hit single in the seventh
• JoJo Montgomery recorded an RBI double to open the scoring
• Larry Hotaling scored a team-high three runs
• Jack Kelley earned the win, allowing just one unearned run over five innings
• Villanova scored in three separate multi-run innings (3rd, 7th, 8th)

UP NEXT
Villanova will wrap up the series with UNC Asheville on Sunday, March 22, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. at the Villanova Ballpark.