PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Four runs in the eighth inning propelled Villanova past the Saint Joseph's baseball team, 6-5, at Villanova Ballpark on Thursday afternoon. Taylor Boyd was 3-for-4 with three runs batted in on the day, while John Brue drove in a pair as well.
Boyd gave Saint Joseph's (9-13) an early lead in the top of the second inning. Stefan Kancylarz and Cal Jadacki started the inning with singles before a walk to Dominic Cuoci loaded the bases. Two batters later, Boyd laced a single to center to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead. After a strikeout and a hit batsman re-loaded the bases, Brue came through with a two-run single of his own, pushing the advantage to four.
Picking up right where they left off, the Hawks added one in the third as a double by Jadacki once again set the table for Boyd, who singled home the run to extend the lead to 5-0.
A pair of fourth-inning runs got Villanova (10-14) on the board. Adam Goss hit a one-out double before Emmanuel Morris's bunt single cut the Hawk lead to 5-2.
Kevin Jewitt started a two-out rally for the Wildcats in the eighth with a single; he then came in to score on a fielding error after a single by Goss. Two batters later, Brady Acton drove in a run with a pinch-hit single to cut the Hawk edge to one. Morris then tied the game with an infield single before Donovan May singled home what turned out to be the winning run to put Villanova ahead for good.
Neither starter figured in the decision, as Joe Manion tossed five innings and allowed seven hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts for SJU, while Josh Harris allowed five runs on seven hits in three and two-thirds for the Wildcats. Trevino Rodriguez earned the win for Villanova, allowing one hit in a third of an inning, while Lansing Veeder was charged with the loss after ceding three hits and one run, also in a third of an inning. Chris Haggarty retired the Hawks in order in the ninth for his third save.
First pitch for Friday's tilt between Saint Joseph's and Bryant is set for 11:00 a.m. at Smithson Field. Live stats and streaming audio will be available for the game.
