Jason Neff delivered in the clutch, launching a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning to propel Villanova to a thrilling 7-6 comeback victory over Lipscomb on Sunday afternoon at Ken Dugan Field. The win secured the series for the Wildcats, who took two of three games from the Bisons.
Neff’s blast marked his second home run in as many days and his fifth of the season. He now boasts 17 RBI on the year, placing him among the nation’s top 10 run producers. The senior slugger leads Villanova in nearly every offensive category, including runs (13), home runs (5), RBI (17), total bases (32), and multi-hit games (4). He’s also tied for the team lead in hits (13) and stolen bases (3).
Left fielder Austin Lemon fueled the Wildcats' offense with a career-best three-hit performance, extending his on-base streak to 10 games. On the mound, right-hander Alec Sachais delivered 1.2 innings of solid relief, allowing just one hit. Meanwhile, Jake Francis has yet to issue a walk in 15.1 innings pitched this season.
The Wildcats (6-4) now shift their focus to a midweek showdown in South Beach, where they’ll face Miami (FL) on Wednesday (March 5) at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET.
For the third straight game, Penn jumped out to an early lead, but No. 21 Troy responded in dominant fashion, handing the Quakers a 6-1 defeat Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field. The loss marks Penn’s sixth straight to open the season, dropping the Quakers to 0-6. Meanwhile, the red-hot Trojans (11-1) extended their winning streak to eight games. Penn is winless through its first six games for the first time since 2017. That year, the Quakers finished 23-22 overall and 12-8 in Ivy League play before falling to Yale in the Ivy League Championship Series.
