Jason Neff
Tim Cowie/DavidsonPhotos.com
12
Winner Villanova VU 7-6
9
South Florida USF 7-6
Winner
Villanova VU
7-6
12
Final
9
South Florida USF
7-6
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Villanova VU 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 12 8 1
South Florida USF 2 3 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 9 15 2

W: Moore, Graham (1-1) L: KLING, C. (0-1) S: Francis, Jake (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Eighth Inning Rally Fuels Villanova to Victory at USF

TAMPA, Fla. – A five-run rally in the eighth inning highlighted by a three-run home run by Jason Neff propelled the Villanova University baseball team to a 12-9 win over South Florida on Saturday afternoon (March 8) at the USF Baseball Stadium.
 
Neff finished 2-for-4 with two runs, a home run and four RBI, while right fielder Austin Lemon posted two hits, two runs and two RBI. On the mound, Bobby Finn, Graham Moore and Jake Francis combined for 5.2 shutout innings and allowed only four hits out of the bullpen. Francis earned his second save of the season by closing out the ninth inning.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats (7-6) built a big lead in the top of the first. After Lemon hit a leadoff double to start the game, the Wildcats scored six runs behind two more hits, two bases-loaded walks, an RBI hit by pitch and a throwing error at home plate. When it was all said and done, Villanova sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, recording three hits, four walks and six runs in the opening frame.
 
The Bulls (7-6) responded in the bottom half of the opening inning with a two-run home run, bringing the score to 6-2 after one inning.
 
South Florida continued to climb back in the second, using a pair of two-out hits to score three runs. The Bulls pulled within one run, cutting Villanova's lead to 6-5.
 
The 'Cats pushed their lead back to two in the third with an RBI single by Lemon, but USF immediately answered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single of its own.
 
Relievers on both sides shut things down in the middle innings. For the Bulls, Jorge DeCardenas held the Wildcats scoreless throughout the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Meanwhile, Finn went 2.2 innings scoreless, allowing only one hit while posting two strikeouts.
 
USF broke the stalemate in the bottom of the seventh inning, using back-to-back solo home runs and an RBI single to build a two-run lead, its first of the game.
 
Villanova answered the South Florida surge with a five-run eighth inning. With the bases loaded, third baseman Michael Whooley singled up the middle to drive home two runs and tie the game. In the very next at bat, Neff launched a three-run homer over the left field wall, giving the Wildcats a 12-9 lead.
 
The Bulls threatened by putting runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, but Neff caught Anthony Quigley stealing second to end the inning.
 
Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Francis made quick work of the top of the Bulls' lineup, securing the save and the 12-9 win for Villanova.
 
Francis' save is his second of the season. Moore earned the win, improving to 1-1 on the season. Corey Kling (0-1) received the loss for USF.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
  • Neff has posted two-or-more RBI in six of 13 games this season, and has three games with four runs driven in. He leads the team with 21 total RBI and six home runs.
  • Lemon's on-base streak has been extended to 13 games, and he has posted a hit in 12-of-13 games this season.
  • Center fielder Connor Hale drew three walks, growing his on-base percentage to .462 on the season. This trails only Lemon's mark of .508 for the team lead.  
  • Francis now leads the Wildcats in ERA (3.21) and WHIP (0.93). He is yet to yield a walk through 14.0 innings pitched.
 
UP NEXT
Villanova will face South Florida in a series-deciding third game on Sunday (March 9) at USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Fla. First pitch has been moved up from its original start time to 11 a.m. ET, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
 
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