Shane Solari
Austin Yayer
2
Villanova VU 6-6
3
Winner South Florida USF 7-5
Villanova VU
6-6
2
Final
3
South Florida USF
7-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Villanova VU 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 7 2
South Florida USF 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 3 7 2

W: YOREK, L. (2-1) L: Sachais, Alec (2-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Villanova Drops Pitcher’s Duel at USF on a Walk-Off, 3-2

TAMPA, Fla. – A walk-off ended the Villanova University baseball team's comeback bid in the team's series opener at South Florida on Friday night (March 7) at the USF Baseball Stadium. An RBI single by Ryan Pruitt in the ninth inning won the game for the Bulls by a score of 3-2.
 
Starting pitcher Bobby Olsen was excellent on the mound for the Wildcats (6-6). He pitched eight full innings, allowing only five hits, two walks and two runs while striking out four. By the time Olsen ended the eighth inning and exited the game, he had thrown 112 pitches (75 strikes) and retired the last seven batters he faced.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both Olsen and USF (7-5) starter Corey Braun were outstanding to start the game, holding both teams scoreless throughout the first four innings. The two allowed only five hits combined in the first four frames.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, the Wildcats finally broke the scoreless tie with a pair of hits. Designated hitter Josue Valdez laced a double into left center field to lead off the inning. Then, with two outs, freshman left fielder JoJo Montgomery hit a line drive just over the glove of the USF second baseman to log his first career RBI and put Villanova ahead, 1-0.
 
South Florida quickly responded in the bottom half of the fifth, using a pair of singles to even the score. Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, a sacrifice fly scored one more run to give the Bulls a 2-1 lead.
 
Olsen set USF down 1-2-3 in the seventh and eighth innings, leaving the Wildcats down one run heading into the top of the ninth.
 
With one more chance to tie the game, pinch hitter John Freitag was hit by a pitch and replaced on the base paths by Jake McElroy. Then, after being down 1-2 in the count, Connor Hale drew a walk, setting up pinch hitter Shane Solari to lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt and put two runners in scoring position. A groundout by Austin Lemon was enough to score McElroy, tying the game at two runs apiece. Then, shortstop Tyler Shaw struck out to end the inning and strand Hale at third base.
 
Alec Sachais replaced Olsen in the bottom of the ninth, looking to hold the Bulls scoreless and extend the game. However, with the bases loaded an one out, Pruitt lifted a line drive into left field to score Jackson Mayo and give South Florida the 3-2 walk-off win.
 
Reliever Landen Yorek earned the win for USF improving to 2-1, while Sachais received the loss and fell to 2-1.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
  • Valdez is now batting .357 (5-for-14) after hitting a double in the fifth inning.
  • With a single in the third inning, Lemon has now reached base in 12 straight games to start the season. Through those 12 games, he has a team-best 16 hits.
  • Olsen has posted 9.72 strikeouts per nine innings this season (27 Ks on 25.0 IP). If it holds, that rate would be the 19th best season K/9 in Villanova history.
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will play the second game of their three-game series at USF on Saturday (March 8) at USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
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