PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – The Villanova baseball team rolled to a 14-2 mercy-rule victory over Bucknell on Tuesday, April 14, at Villanova Ballpark, highlighted by a grand slam from
Mark Gialluisi.
Villanova struck first in the bottom of the second inning. After a leadoff hit and a walk, the Wildcats quickly created traffic on the bases and loaded them following an infield single by Gialluisi.
Tim Schuler then showed patience at the plate, drawing a bases-loaded walk to bring home the game's first run and give Villanova a 1-0 lead.
Bucknell responded in the top of the third, using a one-out triple and a groundout to second base to plate the tying run.
The Wildcats answered right back in the bottom half of the inning. After opening with a pair of hits,
Brayden Leonard lifted a sacrifice fly to score
Michael Whooley. Villanova again loaded the bases with one out, and
Carter Richey delivered the big hit—driving a bases-clearing triple into the left-center gap to extend the lead to 5-1.
Bucknell added a run in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk to make it 5-2, but Villanova quickly pulled away in the bottom half.
Collin Quintano knocked in a run with an infield single, and Leonard followed by reaching on a fielder's choice to bring home another, pushing the lead to 7-2.
The Wildcats broke the game open later in the inning. After working multiple two-out walks to load the bases, Gialluisi launched a towering grand slam to right-center field, capping a five-run frame and giving Villanova a commanding 12-2 advantage.
Villanova continued its offensive momentum in the sixth, plating two more runs as Lemon and Hotaling each crossed the plate to extend the lead to 14-2.
With the mercy rule in effect,
Jeremiah Holder closed out the game in the seventh, recording the final three outs, including two strikeouts.
Villanova secured its 12th win of the season with the dominant 14-2 victory.
Up Next: The Wildcats return to Villanova Ballpark to host BIG EAST rival Creighton in a three-game series beginning Friday, April 17, at 3:05 p.m.
