VILLANOVA, Pa. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth nonconference baseball game that stretched from the afternoon into the evening Tuesday, the Villanova Wildcats rallied from an early six-run deficit to defeat the La Salle Explorers 14-10 at Villanova Ballpark.

The game’s most important sequence came in the bottom of the eighth inning, with the score tied at 10. Villanova’s Brayden Leonard was hit by a pitch and Michael Whooley walked, setting the stage for a decisive four-run outburst. John Freitag drove in the go-ahead run with a single to center, scoring Leonard. After a stolen base and another walk loaded the bases, Jack Roventini delivered an RBI single, and pinch-hitter Mark Gialluisi sealed the victory with a two-run single to center, providing the final margin.

Whooley, the Wildcats’ shortstop, was the top star for the home team, going 2 for 3 with a home run, three RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. His solo homer in the first inning put Villanova on the board after a rough start, and his two-run double in the third inning keyed an early comeback effort.

La Salle (8-7) exploded early, sending 10 batters to the plate in a six-run first inning. Justin Szestowicki provided the big blow, a three-run homer to left field off Villanova starter Matthew Kahn. The Explorers added to their lead in the third and fifth innings on two-run home runs by first baseman Alec Welshans. Welshans finished 2 for 4 with two homers and four RBIs, while Szestowicki was 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs.

Despite the offensive showcase from Welshans and Szestowicki, La Salle’s pitching could not hold the lead. Villanova (5-8) chipped away, scoring two in the third, three in the fourth, two in the fifth, one in the sixth, and one in the seventh to tie the game at 10 before the eighth-inning breakthrough.

Leonard was a catalyst for the Wildcats, going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. The Villanova bullpen combination of JP Podgorski and Graham Moore proved critical in the late innings. Podgorski tossed two perfect innings with two strikeouts from the sixth through the seventh, and Moore struck out the side in the eighth to earn the win.

La Salle reliever Dylan Duke was effective in a no-decision, throwing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, but the Explorers’ staff issued 10 walks and three wild pitches.

The game began at 3 p.m. and concluded under the lights just after 7 p.m.

La Salle looks to rebound Wednesday at home against Lafayette. Villanova travels to South Carolina for a three-game series at Charleston Southern beginning Friday.