Brayden Leonard
Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos
10
Winner Villanova VU 12-10
5
Wofford WOF 17-8
Winner
Villanova VU
12-10
10
Final
5
Wofford WOF
17-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Villanova VU 4 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 10 13 2
Wofford WOF 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 5 8 2

W: McCollough, Luke (3-0) L: Dy. Rhadans (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Neff, Leonard Homer as Villanova Defeats Wofford in Series Finale

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the second game in a row, the Villanova University baseball team posted at least 10 runs and 13 hits in a 10-5 win over Wofford on Sunday (March 23) at Russell C. King Field.
 
Catcher Jason Neff and second baseman Brayden Leonard led the way at the plate for the Wildcats. Neff hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning, bringing his totals for the series to three home runs and eight RBI. Meanwhile, Leonard went 3-for-5 with a home run in his second straight three-hit game. The freshman has 10 hits, 10 RBI, two home runs and five runs scored in his last five games. Neff and Leonard lead the Wildcats (12-10) with 26 hits apiece on the season.
 
Starting pitcher Luke McCollough was solid on the mound to limit the Terriers in the early innings. The right-hander went 5.0 innings, allowing only four hits and one run.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats jumped out to a big lead in the top of the first inning, using a bases-loaded fielder's choice and a three-run homer by Leonard to get ahead, 4-0 in the first frame.
 
Then, in the second inning, Aidan Barry drove in Trent Toole on an RBI single to increase the lead to five. Wofford attempted to pick off Barry, but the ball got away from the first baseman, scoring Montgomery from third on the error.
 
Wofford used a double and a single to get one run back in the bottom of the third, cutting Villanova's lead to 6-1.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning, Jake McElroy stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. McElroy singled through the right side against the shift, scoring two runs and extending the Wildcats' advantage to 8-1.
 
Then, in the top of the sixth, Neff launched a two-run homer over the left field wall to push the lead to nine runs.
 
JP Podgorski replaced McCollough in the bottom of the sixth. The Terriers took advantage by scoring one run off of a hit and a throwing error. Wofford added another run in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of doubles, cutting the Villanova lead to 10-3.
 
Jack Chavez held things down on the mound in the eighth and ninth innings. Despite allowing two unearned runs, he kept the Wildcats in position to pick up the 10-5 win.
 
McCollough picked up his second win of the season to improve to 3-0, while Wofford starter Dylan Ragans fell to 0-1 with the loss.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
  • Freshman JoJo Montgomery went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. He is now on a five-game hitting streak, with 10 total hits over that span.
  • McCollough now has a team- and career-best 3.62 ERA.
  • The Wildcats have posted 10 or more runs in eight games this season. They have recorded 10 or more hits in seven games.
 
ON DECK
The Wildcats will face Delaware State on Tuesday (March 25) in the first round of the Liberty Bell Classic at Bob Reed Field in Dover, Del.
 
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