Box Score
NORFOLK, Va. – Kevin Wager went 6-for-7 with five runs batted in, including four during a 12-run Villanova second inning, as the visiting Wildcats completed a three-game sweep of Norfolk State, 17-5, on Sunday afternoon at
Marty L. Miller Field.
The Wildcats (3-3) sent 16 men to the plate in their 12-run second inning, when they took advantage of nine hits and two NSU (1-6) errors. Wager hit two two-run singles in the frame, Marlon Calbi hit an RBI single and a two-run double, and Matt Fleishman also had two run-scoring hits in the inning, a single and a double. Andrew Geenen chipped in with a two-run single in the inning.
That inning proved to be the difference in the game, as the Spartans tallied season highs of five runs and 14 hits. But VU scored all its runs in the first five innings to end all doubt.
NSU got on the board with three runs in the second. Rafael Colon and Mikey Bruno hit RBI singles in the frame, and Joshua Boyd stroked a run-scoring double.
The Spartans added two more in the fourth on a two-out, two-run single by shortstop Justin Lee, his first career RBI at NSU.
Wager had hits in his first six at-bats for the Wildcats before popping out to shortstop in the top of the ninth. But he was far from the only hitting standout for VU. Calbi and Tyler Sciacca both went 3-for-6 with three RBI. Calbi also doubled twice. Fleishman and Brandon Carr added two hits apiece for VU, which finished with a season-high 20.
Boyd went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in his first career start for the Spartans. Colon, Bruno and James Taylor also had two hits each.
Jerry Battipaglia (1-0) earned the win for VU, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings in relief of starter Max Almonte. NSU starter Jeff Di Fulgo took the loss for NSU to drop to 0-2. He allowed seven hits and nine runs, eight earned, in 1.1 innings pitched.
Spartan reliever Chris Horne allowed just five hits and one run in five innings out of the bullpen. He struck out seven, giving him 10 punchouts in his two appearances spanning six innings of work over the weekend. NSU's pitchers fanned 13 batters Sunday, on the heels of 14 in Saturday's game.
NSU is back in action Tuesday in a 3 p.m. game at VCU.
