Box Score PHOENIX - Villanova picked up arguably its biggest win in program history with a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Arizona State on Saturday afternoon. The pitching duo of Gordon Graceffo and Danny Wilkinson held the Sun Devils to just three hits to give the offense enough breathing room to get the win.
 
Gordon Graceffo did his best to match Jimmy Kingsbury's performance last night and was just as effective. The sophomore preseason All-BIG EAST pitcher went 5.1 IP and allowed just two hits and one run. He issued four walks while striking out one, but none of the walks proved harmful.
 
As good as Graceffo was, freshman Danny Wilkinson may have been even better. Making his first career appearance, Wilkinson threw 3.2 innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball. The freshman showed immense maturity on the mound, working out of multiple jams and keeping ASU off the board each time.
 
The game was scoreless through five in another pitcher's duel. Through five, Villanova out-hit ASU just 2-1 and neither team really threatening to score.  
 
Villanova opened the scoring in the top of the sixth. A leadoff walk to Sam Margulis and a single from Chris Rotondo got things started. Pat O'Neill laid down a bunt resulting in an E2 to load the bases with nobody out. Nick Lorusso hit a hard ground ball up the middle, but a diving play from the shortstop kept it in the infield and led to an RBI fielder's choice. On the next pitch, Toohers hit one just as hard, but right at the first baseman who started the 3-6 double play. Rotondo was able to hustle home and score before the tag was applied at second to put the Wildcats up 2-0, and ultimately for good.
 
ASU got one back instantly with a lead-off home run from Spencer Torkelson in the bottom of the sixth. The Sun Devils threated for more, and with one out and a runner on third, Danny Wilkinson notched a pair of strikeouts to work out of the jam and keep Villanova in the lead.
 
From there, Wilkinson was rolling. He issued a walk and an intentional walk in the seventh, but responded by getting ASU's three-hole hitter to chase the high heat for the inning ending strikeout.
 
A 1-2-3 eighth set up a dramatic ninth inning.
 
The freshman got the first two, and it looked like he would coast to the finish. However, a two-out, two-strike pinch hit sparked a rally. Wilkinson issued a walk that brought Torkelson back to the plate. The Villanova coaching staff opted to roll the dice with another intentional walk and load the bases. Trevor Hauver did his best to prolong the game, but Wilkinson wouldn't let it happen. Eight pitches later, he again sat Hauver down on strikes and completed the 2-1 upset.
 
This is the highest ranked team the Wildcats have ever beaten, topping the previous best of an 11-1 win over No. 8 Florida on March 4, 2005. This is also the program's first win over any ranked team since beating No. 20 St. John's in 2017.
 
Villanova is back in action tomorrow at 2:30 ET/12:30 MT for the rubber match. Brandon Siegenthaler is expected to take the mound for the Wildcats.
 
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