University of Delaware Athletics

Photo by: Chris Mlynarczyk
Blue Hens Fall To Villanova, 6-5, in Liberty Bell Classic Final
4/20/2022 12:53:00 AM | Baseball
PHILADELPHIA – Delaware's comeback attempt fell one run short as the Blue Hens fell to Villanova, 6-5, Tuesday night in the Liberty Bell Classic championship game at Citizens Bank Park.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on a Joey Castellanos RBI single, while Villanova added three runs in the second to take a 4-0 lead.
JJ Freeman led off the top of the fourth with a double and scored on a single up the middle by Joseph Carpenter to put Delaware on the board, but the Wildcats used a pair of bases loaded walks in the bottom half to make it a 6-1 game.
The Blue Hens rallied in the top of the sixth, as Gabe Dermott singled home Carpenter before John Weglarz drove home a pair with a bases loaded single to left. Villanova shortstop Pat O'Neill then made errors on consecutive groundballs, allowing Jordan Hutchins to cross the plate.
Meanwhile the relief trio of Nate Rolka, Mike Biasiello and Bryce Greenly combined to toss 4.1 scoreless frames to give the Blue Hens a shot in the late innings.
However Delaware left the bases loaded in the seventh and stranded runners on second and third in the ninth.
Carpenter, Dermott and Weglarz each finished with two hits for the Blue Hens.
Jim Sherman
"We played much better in the second half of the game with some clutch pitching and timely hitting, but we played our worst baseball in the first few innings and that was the difference. As long as I've been around, it's still a thrill to play at a big league ballpark and I know it was thrilling for our guys too."
For the latest on the Delaware baseball program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter and Instagram @DelawareBASE, and like "Delaware Baseball" on Facebook.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on a Joey Castellanos RBI single, while Villanova added three runs in the second to take a 4-0 lead.
JJ Freeman led off the top of the fourth with a double and scored on a single up the middle by Joseph Carpenter to put Delaware on the board, but the Wildcats used a pair of bases loaded walks in the bottom half to make it a 6-1 game.
The Blue Hens rallied in the top of the sixth, as Gabe Dermott singled home Carpenter before John Weglarz drove home a pair with a bases loaded single to left. Villanova shortstop Pat O'Neill then made errors on consecutive groundballs, allowing Jordan Hutchins to cross the plate.
Meanwhile the relief trio of Nate Rolka, Mike Biasiello and Bryce Greenly combined to toss 4.1 scoreless frames to give the Blue Hens a shot in the late innings.
However Delaware left the bases loaded in the seventh and stranded runners on second and third in the ninth.
Carpenter, Dermott and Weglarz each finished with two hits for the Blue Hens.
Jim Sherman
"We played much better in the second half of the game with some clutch pitching and timely hitting, but we played our worst baseball in the first few innings and that was the difference. As long as I've been around, it's still a thrill to play at a big league ballpark and I know it was thrilling for our guys too."
For the latest on the Delaware baseball program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter and Instagram @DelawareBASE, and like "Delaware Baseball" on Facebook.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Devin Rivera (1-2)
L: Ledesma, Jose (0-2)
S: Danny Wilkinson (1)

Batting:
2B: Freeman, JJ 1 ; Weglarz, John 1
RBI: Carpenter, Joseph 1 ; Dermott, Gabe 1 ; Weglarz, John 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Freeman, JJ 1 ; Carpenter, Joseph 1 ; Kane, Aidan 1 ; Dermott, Gabe 1 ; Hutchins, Jordan 1
SB: Loynd, Joey 1
HBP: Carpenter, Joseph 1

Batting:
RBI: Pat O'Neill 1 ; Joey Castellanos 1 ; AJ Hansen 1 ; Shane Solari 2
SH: Shane Solari 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chris Rotondo 1 ; Jack O'Reilly 1 ; John Whooley 1 ; Will Reiner 1 ; AJ Hansen 1 ; Shane Solari 1
SB: Shane Solari 1
CS: Chris Rotondo 1
HBP: AJ Hansen 1
Game Leaders
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