Ford Goes Deep in Pirates Setback at Villanova, 8-2

Thursday, May 15

Villanova, Pa.

3 p.m.

Seton Hall University

22-30, 8-11

Villanova

22-26, 6-13

Seton Hall

Villanova

Ford Goes Deep in Pirates Setback at Villanova, 8-2

5/15/2025 6:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score BOX SCORE (.pdf)

VILLANOVA, PA. – Sophomore Justin Ford (Roxbury, N.J.) clubbed his first career home run, but the Seton Hall baseball team dropped the opening game of a three-game set at Villanova, 8-2, on Thursday.

The Pirates never led as Villanova struck for three runs in the bottom of the third off starter Steven Svenson (Matawan, N.J.) and couldn't find the equalizer.

Senior Jimmy Brennan (Newton, N.J.) also drove in a run and was 1-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice fly.

Sophomore Aiden Robbins (Yardley, Pa.) reached base twice with a pair of walks.

Justin Ford clubs a no-doubter over the left field fence for his first home run of the season!#HALLin ⚾🏴‍☠️🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/EbsJycx48O
— Seton Hall University Baseball (@SHUBaseball) May 15, 2025

THE STORY:
With two outs and two on in the bottom of the third inning, Villanova's Michael Whooley hit a three-run home run down the left field line off Svenson to break the scoreless tie.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Pirates finally broke through offensively. Back-to-back singles by Dylan Pacheco (Dartmouth, Mass.) and AJ Soldra (Orange, Conn.) put runners on the corners with no outs and chased Villanova starter JP Podgorski. Brennan was able to drive in the Pirates' first run with a sacrifice fly, but Seton Hall couldn't generate additional offense.

Trailing 6-1, Ford connected on his first home run of the season, a towering shot to left field, to cut The Hall's deficit to 6-2 in the top of the seventh inning. An inning later, Seton Hall again put two runners on base with only one out, but it couldn't get them around.

Oh baby!! Marco Ali with the web gem in the eighth inning!!#HALLin ⚾🏴‍☠️🔵⚪@d1baseball @BIGEAST pic.twitter.com/TGmD5qWQSw
— Seton Hall University Baseball (@SHUBaseball) May 15, 2025

THE NUMBERS:

Villanova out-hit Seton Hall, 8-to-6.
Both teams committed one error and left nine men on base.
The Pirates were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, while the Wildcats were 3-for-13 (.231).
Ford had a solo home run, the first of his career.
Brennan went 1-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice fly.
Robbins walked twice.
Svenson took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits over 4.0 innings pitched. He struck out three and walked two.

THE NOTES:

Seton Hall falls to 22-30 overall and 8-11 in the BIG EAST Conference, while Villanova improves to 22-26 overall and 6-13 in conference play.
The Pirates drop to 97-49 all-time against Villanova.
Soldra has now safely hit in 18 straight BIG EAST games after his sixth inning single today.

UP NEXT:
Seton Hall will continue its series at Villanova tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.