Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – Matt Fleishman and Justin Bencsko combined for six hits and five runs batted in as Villanova surged late to a 7-3 win over Norfolk State on Saturday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

The Wildcats (2-0) broke a 2-2 tie by scoring once in the seventh, then put it away with four more in the eighth to turn back the Spartans (0-2).

Kevin Wager got Villanova on the board with a two-run single in the third off of NSU starter Chase Davenport (Wooster, Ohio). Both base runners who scored reached base after being hit by Davenport pitches.

The Spartans fought back to tie the game thanks to freshman Shane Hoggard (Hampton, Va.). Hoggard hit RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings for the first two hits and RBI of his career, knotting the score at 2-all.

But VU took the lead for good on Fleishman's RBI single off Davenport in the top of the seventh. The Wildcats then tacked on four insurance runs in the eighth off the Spartan bullpen. Bencsko hit a two-run single and Fleishman stroked a two-run double to give the Wildcats a cushion.

NSU answered with a run in the bottom of the eighth. John Rasberry (Suffolk, Va.) and Chris Joyce (Chesapeake, Va.) hit consecutive doubles to lead off the inning and provide the final margin of 7-3.

Kevin Crimmel got the win on the mound for VU despite yielding five hits and two runs in 2.2 innings of relief work. Wildcats' starter Kyle Helisek got a no-decision despite fanning seven and allowing just one unearned run in five innings.

Davenport (0-1) got the loss despite a strong outing. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs in seven innings while striking out a career-high seven batters.

Fleishman had three hits and three RBI, and Bencsko had three hits and two RBI. Wager and Marlon Calbi added two hits each for Villanova.

Hoggard and Joyce both went 2-for-4 for the Spartans. Hoggard knocked in two runs, and Joyce knocked in one and scored once.

The teams wrap up their three-game series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game.