PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - The Villanova baseball team fell to the Bucknell Bison 10-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Villanova Ballpark. The Wildcats had a season-high 16 hits with Chris Rotondo leading the team with four. Bucknell scored seven runs in the first three innings to establish their lead.

Mike Schwartz got his first start of the season for the Wildcats. Previously he has made 13 appearances with 14.0 innings pitched. Today he pitched two and two thirds allowing seven hits, seven runs, three earned while striking out two. 

Chris Rotondo's four hits was a career high. Beating his previous mark of three hits which he has done three times this season. 

Pat O'Neill contributed with three hits, tying his career high. It was his third three hit game of the season.

Jonathan Rosero came in relief for Schwartz, pitching five and a third allowing three hits and three runs, all unearned. Rosero retired the first nine batters he faced including striking out the first four. 

The Bison got on the board in the top of the second, with one out and the bases loaded, a failed pick-off attempt scored the first two Bucknell runs. With runners on the corners and two outs, a passed ball scored the runner on third to make it 3-0 Bison.

In the top of the third, a two-out double to center field scored the runners from first and second to give Bucknell a 5-0 lead. The next batter reached on a error and the runner from second beat the throw to the plate. Broughton singled up the middle to score the runner from third to make it 7-0 Bucknell. 

Villanova got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. With back to back singles by McNary and then Rotondo, a balk would advance them to second and third with one out. Nick Lorusso hit a sacrifice lfy to center field to score McNary and make it 7-1 Bucknell.

The Wildcats cut into Bucknell's lead even more in the bottom of the sixth. JP Radvany was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning and then followed by a single to left field by Timothy Lilly. A double to left field by Pat O'Neill scored Radvany and moved Lilly to third. Will Reiner hit an infield single to load the bases with one outs. Sam Margulis hit a single to right field to score O'Neill and Lilly to make it 7-4 Bucknell.

The Bison scored three runs in the top of the eighth to increase their lead and make it 10-4. 

Villanova would get one back in the bottom of the ninth after a two-out single to left field by Lilly scored Lorusso from third.

The Wildcats return to action tomorrow March 27th against Penn in the quarterfinal of the Liberty Bell Classic. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m. and fans can follow along with live stats or watch on Nova Nation All-Access.