Jack Chavez
Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos
2
Princeton PRI 3-15
3
Winner Villanova VU 11-8
Princeton PRI
3-15
2
Final
3
Villanova VU
11-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Princeton PRI 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 1
Villanova VU 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 X 3 6 2

W: Podgorski, JP (1-2) L: Beasley, James (0-4) S: Chavez, Jack (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Freshman Class Reaches New Heights as Villanova Shuts Down Princeton

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – Freshmen Brayden Leonard, John Freitag and Jack Chavez all shined in the Villanova University baseball team's 3-2 win over Princeton on Wednesday (March 19) at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth.
 
Leonard drove in two runs on a pair of RBI singles in the first and third innings, while Freitag hit his first career home run in the bottom of the second to account for all three Villanova (11-8) runs. Chavez took over on the mound in the seventh inning, allowing no runs, no hits and only two walks to earn his first career save. Meanwhile, freshman JP Podgorski blanked the Tigers (3-15) in the middle innings, earning his first career win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the bottom half of the first frame, Leonard drove home right fielder Jake McElroy with an RBI single to put the 'Cats on the board. Aidan Barry tried to score another run from second base, but he was gunned down by Princeton right fielder Jordan Kelly to end the inning and keep the Villanova lead at 1-0.
 
Villanova starter Bobby Finn set Princeton down 1-2-3 in the second inning. In the home half, Freitag's solo homer extended the Wildcats' lead to 2-0. Then, in the third inning, Leonard drove home Michael Whooley for his second RBI of the contest, giving Villanova a three-run lead.
 
Finn gave up runs in the fourth and fifth innings (one earned), but once Villanova turned things over to Podgorski and Chavez, the Wildcats cruised to a 3-2 victory.
 
Podgorski improved to 1-2 on the season with the win, while Princeton starter James Beasley fell to 0-4 with the loss. Chavez joined Jake Francis and Alec Sachais as one of three Villanova pitchers to record a save on the season.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
  • With a single into center field in the bottom of the third inning, third baseman Michael Whooley has extended his hitting streak to nine games.
  • Freshman Brayden Leonard has driven in seven runs over his last three games.
  • After giving up eight runs in 1.2 innings over his first three appearances, Bobby Finn has a 2.13 ERA with 13 strikeouts over his last six appearances.
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will head to Spartanburg, S.C., to face Wofford in a three-game series at Russell C. King Field. The first game of the series is on Friday (March 19) at 5:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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