KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Villanova baseball team fell to the George Mason Patriots 12-5 on Sunday afternoon to conclude the Sunshine State Classic. Villanova finished with 11 hits. Three Wildcats had multiple hits including freshman Dylan McNary who had four singles and also scored four runs. It was the first time this season Villanova had three players with two or more hits.

George Mason got off to a fast start as the Patriots plated four runs in the top of the first inning. But freshman starting pitcher Gordon Graceffo settled in after that as he retired seven batters in a row as the Wildcats headed into the bottom of the fourth inning. Graceffo pitched four innings with one strikeout and five hits.

Villanova started the fourth inning off with three singles in a row to load the bases. Junior Tyler Bruno hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in the first run for the Wildcats. Then with runners on the corners, sophomore Pat O'Neill singled to center field scoring sophomore Chris Rotondo.  

In the top of the fifth, freshman Nick Lourusso came in to pitch for the Wildcats. The Patriots hit a sacrifice fly to left field to make the score 5-2 but the Wildcats got one back in the bottom of the fifth when Lorusso doubled down the left field line scoring McNary.

The Wildcats scored another run in the bottom of the seventh off a single through the left side by Lorusso to score McNary to make the score 5-4 George Mason.

But George Mason responded by scoring four runs in the eighth inning. and then three runs in the ninth inning. The Wildcats scored one in the bottom of the ninth off a two out hit by Tyler Bruno scoring McNary to make it 12-5.

Villanova returns to action on February 22-24 as the Wildcats will travel to University of Virginia for a three-game series.