Villanova opened its 2026 season with a measured, veteran performance Friday afternoon.
The Wildcats used timely hitting, a steady start from Jake Francis and lockdown relief to defeat FIU, 7-4, at FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami, Fla.
Villanova (1-0) drew 11 walks, got a three-run home run from senior Michael Whooley and limited FIU to one earned run on five hits in a disciplined opening-day effort that reflected the experience sprinkled throughout its roster.
FIU struck first in the bottom of the first on an unearned run, but the Wildcats answered immediately.
In the second inning, redshirt sophomore catcher Mark Gialluisi — a Rutgers transfer making his Villanova debut — doubled to right field to drive in sophomore John Freitag and tie the score at 1-1. Later in the inning, freshman Jack Roventini came home on a wild pitch to give Villanova a 2-1 lead it would not surrender.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the fourth, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to push the margin to 3-1.
Francis, a junior right-hander, set the tone on the mound. He worked four innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out three. At one point, he retired eight consecutive batters, showing command and rhythm typical of a seasoned weekend arm.
FIU threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs. Senior left-hander Bobby Finn entered in relief and limited the damage to one run, preserving the lead. Finn tossed 2 2/3 innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out two.
The Panthers added another run in the sixth on a wild pitch, trimming Villanova’s advantage to 3-2.
The Wildcats created separation in the eighth.
With two runners aboard, Whooley turned on a pitch and drove it to left-center field for a three-run home run, his first of the season and the only homer of the game. The blast extended the lead to 6-3. Graduate transfer Carter Richey later added a sacrifice fly, capping a four-run inning that provided breathing room.
FIU scored once in the bottom of the eighth, but graduate left-hander Will Parkinson and senior right-hander Graham Moore closed the door. Parkinson (1-0) struck out three over 1 1/3 innings to earn the win, and Moore retired the Panthers in order in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Villanova finished with eight hits and left 13 runners on base but consistently pressured FIU’s pitching staff. Brayden Leonard swiped two bases, and Trent Toole added another off the bench. Whooley paced the offense, going 2 for 5 with three RBIs and a double to go with his home run.
Defensively, Villanova committed four errors, leading to three unearned FIU runs. Still, the pitching staff limited further damage, combining for nine strikeouts and holding the Panthers to five hits.
The victory highlighted the balance of the Wildcats’ roster. Veterans such as Whooley, Richey, Finn and Moore provided stability, while newcomers including Gialluisi and Roventini made immediate contributions.
Villanova will look to secure the series Saturday when it returns to FIU Baseball Stadium for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
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