PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. (Interstat) — Lawrence Hotaling drove in three runs and scored twice as Villanova crushed Towson 14-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth.

The Wildcats, who improved to 17-26, erupted for seven runs in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach. Hotaling, who went 3 for 4 with a triple, a double and three RBIs, ignited the outburst with a two-run single that extended the lead to 8-1.

Villanova starter CJ Furey worked two innings, allowing one hit and no earned runs while striking out two before giving way to a parade of relievers. Five Wildcats pitchers combined to limit Towson to six hits and one run.

The Tigers fell to 17-29.

Towson took an early lead in the top of the first when Frank Adamski Jr. struck out swinging, but the Tigers could not capitalize. Villanova responded in the bottom half. Brayden Leonard singled up the middle, and after Collin Quintano reached on a fielder’s choice, Quintano advanced on a wild pitch. Michael Whooley doubled to right center to score Quintano, and Austin Lemon doubled through the left side to plate Whooley. Hotaling then doubled through the right side to score Lemon, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

Villanova added a run in the second. Jack Roventini singled and stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Leonard’s single to left center. Two batters later, Whooley doubled to left center to drive in Leonard, making it 5-0.

Towson got its only run in the sixth. Brian Heckelman doubled to left field and scored on a single by Ben Nugent, who pinch hit for Max D’Alessandro. But the Wildcats had already blown the game open.

The decisive fourth inning began with reliever Matt Lynch on the mound for Towson. JoJo Montgomery walked, and Leonard singled to put runners on the corners. After Quintano struck out, Whooley walked to load the bases. Lemon walked to force in Montgomery, and then Hotaling singled to left, with the ball getting past the shortstop for an error that allowed two more runs to score. John Freitag followed with a single up the middle that scored Hotaling and Lemon, and Mark Gialluisi crushed a home run to left field that scored Freitag and himself, capping the seven-run frame.

Austin Lemon finished 2 for 2 with three RBIs and three walks. Whooley went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Gialluisi drove in two with his homer.

For Towson, Heckelman had two doubles and scored the team’s only run. Josh Janove also doubled twice. The Tigers used five pitchers, with Joey Tuttoilmondo tossing a scoreless inning.

Villanova’s bullpen was effective throughout. Jack Chavez pitched a scoreless inning, Jeremiah Holder struck out one in one-third of an inning, Ryan Conrad struck out two in a scoreless inning and Carsten Finnvold allowed one hit in a scoreless inning.

Towson had lost 11 of its previous 12 games heading into Wednesday, including a 23-11 defeat at home to Maryland the day before. The Tigers next travel to William & Mary for a three-game series starting Friday.

Villanova had dropped three of its previous four games, including a 14-5 loss at Georgetown on Sunday. The Wildcats host Saint John’s for a three-game series beginning Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Villanova 4, Towson 3, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Villanova a 61.50 percent probability to win.