BUIES CREEK, N.C. — Villanova took a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning and added three more runs in the ninth to defeat the host Campbell Fighting Camels, 6-2, on Saturday night at Jim Perry Stadium.
Rookie right-handed pitcher Keegan Houser (0-1) was dealt the loss, making his debut as a Fighting Camel after relieving CU starter Kevin Westlake in the top of the fourth.
Houser, a product of Auburndale, Fla, struck out five batters over his 3.2 innings on the mound, while allowing four hits, two runs and one walk. He was dealt the loss after surrendering Campbell's lead in the seventh inning.
Westlake, who made his second start of 2020, went the first three innings and issued four walks to his five strikeouts, while allowing one earned run. Moore finished the game for Campbell, surrendering three earned runs with three strikeouts and two walks in the final 2.1 innings.
Villanova's starter Gordon Graceffo (2-0) earned his second victory of the early season, limiting the Camels to four hits over the first six innings; he struck out four batters.
Danny Wilkinson collected the save for the Wildcats, only allowing one hit and two walks over the final three innings. He earned his second save of 2020 with the win, striking out six of the 13 batters he faced.
Spencer Packard, Campbell's batting leader a season ago, logged his first multi-hit outing of 2020, going 2-for-4 at the plate. The transfer from Arizona Western College also drew a walk and scored both of Campbell's two runs of the game.
Zach Williams, Collin Wolf and Ryan Parquette had Campbell's other three hits, Williams collecting an RBI single in the first inning, Wolf ripping a lead-off double in the sixth and Parquette hitting a pinch-hit double in the ninth.
The Wildcats were led offensively by a trio of batters – Chris Rotondo, Pat O'Neill and Dylan McNary – who all logged two hits on the night. Rotondo had a triple and drove in two runs.
Villanova and Campbell traded runs in their own halves of the first inning, both recording two base hits in the inning and scoring one run each on two-out RBI singles.
In the bottom of the third, Packard singled through the right side with one gone and then stole second. One batter later, and with Packard on second and two away, Wolf popped up to O'Neill, the Villanova third baseman, but he was unable to catch it, allowing Packard to hustle home from second for Campbell's first lead of the night, 2-1.
Houser made his first appearance in the fourth and held the Wildcats scoreless over the fourth and fifth innings; however, Villanova tied the score at two with a two-out RBI double in the sixth before taking a 3-2 lead on an RBI single in the seventh.
Following the two-out RBI double, Moore relieved Houser and dealt a groundout to end the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh and with two away, Campbell loaded the bases after a pair of walks and a hit by pitch, bringing Wolf to the plate, but he flew out to left field, stranding the bases loaded.
Parquette hit a pinch-hit double in the bottom of the ninth with one out on the board, but Graceffo struck out a pair of Camels to end the game, handing Campbell its fourth loss of the season.
Up Next for the Camels
The Fighting Camels play the final game of the Campbell Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 23, facing the Maine Black Bears for a 2 p.m. first pitch at Jim Perry Stadium.
For the most up-to-date information on Campbell baseball, follow @GoCamelsBSB on Twitter.
