Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. – Matt Fleishman went 4-for-5 with three RBI, including two in Villanova's four-run seventh, and the Wildcats held on for an 8-7 win over Norfolk State in the season-opener for both teams on Friday afternoon at Marty L. Miller Field.

Michael Erb and Kevin Wager added two hits each for the Wildcats. John Lynch, Brandon Hairston and Chris Joyce each had two hits for the Spartans.

With the game tied at 3-all after five, the Wildcats went ahead 4-3 on Erb's RBI single in the sixth. Fleishman had a two-run double and David Koczirka a two-run single to extend Villanova's lead to 8-3 in the seventh.

The Spartans answered right back with four of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Joyce had the key hit, a bases-clearing, three-run double. He later scored on a Wildcat error to get within 8-7.

But VU relievers Julian Diaz and Mike Francisco combined to keep the Spartans off the board over the final two innings. NSU mounted a brief threat in the bottom of the ninth, as James Taylor led off with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice. But Francisco retired Sammy Serafine on a strikeout and Cameron Parsons on a groundout to close out the Wildcats' win.

VU scored in the top of the first on Fleishman's RBI single. But NSU responded with Hairston's two-run homer over the right-field fence in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats took a 3-2 lead in the top of the second on Marlon Calbi's squeeze bunt and Andrew Geenen's run-scoring single.

NSU tied the game at 3-all on Hairston's RBI groundout in the third. Hairston and Joyce drove in three runs apiece for the Spartans.

Kyle McMyne got the win over Villanova after striking out seven in five innings. He allowed three hits and three runs, two earned.

Ryan Shook took the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, in 6.1 innings. He walked none, struck out five and hit one.

The teams play again at 1 p.m. on Saturday.