McNelly, Cinnella Lead Pirates Past Villanova, 3-2

Sunday, May 15

South Orange, N.J.

11 a.m.

Seton Hall University

Villanova

5/15/2022 2:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Hall rallies to win the rubber game with Villanova behind savvy baserunning and strong pitching.

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Junior Mark McNelly (Limerick, Pa.) collected three hits and Joe Cinnella (Mahwah, N.J.) allowed only two runs over five innings as the Seton Hall baseball team edged Villanova, 3-2, to win the penultimate series of the season on Sunday.

With the Pirates looking to stay alive in its chase for an 11^th consecutive BIG EAST Tournament berth, The Hall rallied from a 2-0 deficit to claim the final game of a rain-altered series. The teams were scheduled to play a double-header yesterday with a day off today.

McNelly went 3-for-4 and scored a run, while Cinnella went five innings and allowed just two runs on three hits, while striking out three and walking only one.

The Seton Hall bullpen was also fabulous on Sunday with Chris Shine (South Plainfield, N.J.) and Zane Probst (Mill Hall, Pa.) combining for four shutout innings and allowing just one hit and one walk. Probst picked up his second save of the year.

How It Happened:
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third, Alex Clyde (Old Tappan, N.J.) led off with a single. McNelly came to the plate and authored one of the most-bizarre plays of the season. The junior belted a hard single to center field. Villanova center fielder Chris Rotondo charged the ball, but it scooted past his glove, and he had to give chase. The gaffe was significant enough to allow Clyde to score from first. After McNelly turned second and bolted for third, Wildcat shortstop Pat O'Neill threw wide of third base, which allowed McNelly to pop up and score the tying run.

With the game still locked at two runs apiece, the Pirates took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Clyde led off with a double to left field and McNelly followed with a hard single, advancing Clyde to third. Junior Devin Hack (Somerville, N.J.) hit into a 4-6-3 double-play, but Clyde came in to score the go-ahead run.

Numbers & Notes:

Seton Hall out-hit the Wildcats, 8-4.
The Pirates didn't commit an error for the 21^st time this season.
Cinnella was credited with the win after throwing five innings and allowing just two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked only one.
McNelly led the team with three hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Clyde was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
Shine tossed two innings of hitless relief with three strikeouts and one walk.
Probst picked up his second save of the season with two shutout innings, allowing just one hit, with four strikeouts and no walks.
Seton Hall allowed two or fewer walks for the eighth time this season.
The Pirates lead the all-time series, 94-45, and have won 16 of the last 18 games in the series.

UP NEXT:
Seton Hall will close out the 2022 regular season with a three-game series in Indianapolis against Butler. The games will run Thursday through Saturday next week. All three contests will be available via FloBaseball.