PLYMOUTH MEETING– Villanova splits against Butler on a double header day.  The Wildcats took game one 3-2 but blew an 8-5 lead going into the eighth to fall in extras, 10-9 in game two.
 
Game 1: Villanova 3 Butler 2
 
Game one started with a defensive battle between the two teams.  The first run on the board came in the top of the fourth after a throwing error by Villanova scored Joey Urban.
 
After the top of the sixth inning, the teams combined for six hits and The Bulldogs led 1-0.  That changed in the bottom of the inning as Scott Shaw jacked a home run over the right field wall to tie the game at one.
 
Another solo shot this time by Butler retakes the lead in the eighth.  Joey Urban hit a solo shot into right field to take the 2-1 lead.
 
That lead lasted 3 batters as Michael Whooley answered with a solo homer of his own in the bottom of the eighth to tie it.  Then two batters later, Jack O'Reilly gives Villanova the lead with a solo home run to center.
 
Solid pitching by Patrick Montfort in the last two innings closed out game one for Villanova, winning 3-2.
 
Nova Notes
 

• Scott Shaw hit a solo shot in the sixth inning. Shaw went 2-4 with an RBI and home run.
• Starting pitcher Luke McCollough pitched seven innings, allowing only five hits, one run and striking out three.
• Michael Whooley homered in the eighth to right field to tie the game.
• Jack O'Reilly homered to left center to bring the winning run across the plate.
• Patrick Montfort pitched two innings in relief for Villanova.  Montfort picked up the win as he allowed only one hit, one run and struck out one.

 
 
Game 2: Butler 10 Villanova 9 (11 innings)
 
Game two started off completely different than the first as the total runs in the first game are scored in just the first inning of game two.
 
The Bulldogs were able to get two runs across in the top of the inning. Joey Ruban and Ethan Vecrumba picked up an RBI on those two runs.
 
In the bottom of the inning the Wildcats responded quickly as lead off hitter Cam Hassert hit a solo home run to right field.  Scott Shaw brought in Michale Whooley with a single to left field to tie the game at 2-2. Villanova took the lead 3-2 after a ground out by Dylan Dennis scored Scott Shaw.
 
In the second, Villanova extended their lead after Michael Whooley hit in his brother John Whooley with an RBI double.
 
Butler began to inch closer in the third after a solo home run by Tommy Townsend brought the score to 4-3. They eventually tied the game in the fifth as Townsend singled to right field, scoring Joey Urban.
 
The Wildcats responded in the bottom of the inning to take the lead right back.  Jack O'Reilly singled to left field and Scott Shaw came around to score to take the 5-4 lead. Villanova added another in the inning on a fielder's choice that scored Jack O'Reilly.
 
In the sixth Jack O'Reilly goes yard for the second time today.  His solo shot brought the lead 7-4 for The Wildcats. 
 
Butler brought the lead back to two in the seventh after Evan Parks scored Xavier Carter on an RBI single. In the bottom of the inning Connor Hale singled to right field to take that run back for Villanova, making it 8-5 after seven. The Bulldogs added on in the eighth on a ground out that scored Dorighi.
 
Down two runs going into the ninth, Butler tied it up. An RBI single to right field by Evan Parks and Keegan Connors, tied the game at eight.
 
As the game went into the tenth inning, Butler took a 9-8 lead in the top of the inning. 
Coming down to their final three outs, Michael Whooley responded for Villanova with a solo shot into left field to tie the game.
 
As we went into the eleventh inning, Butler was able to get on the board with a solo shot by Carter Dorighi. Villanova was not able to get anything on the board themselves in the bottom of the inning, ending the game at 10-9 Butler.
 
Nova Notes

• Cam Hassert leads the game off in the first with a solo home run to right center. Hassert went 2-6 with an RBI and home run in game two.
• Jack O'Reilly hit a home run in the sixth.  O'Reilly went 3-5 with a walk, home run and two RBI.
• Michael Whooley hit a solo home run in the tenth inning to tie the game. Whooley went 3-6 with two RBI and a home run.
• Seven different Wildcats recorded at least one RBI in game two.  That list includes Hassert, Michael Whooley, Scott Shaw, Jack O'Reilly, Dylan Dennis, Connor Hale and Shane Solari. 

 
Up Next
The Wildcats will look to sweep the series tomorrow for game three scheduled for 12:00pm.