NEW YORK -- Villanova freshman left-hander Danny Wilkinson was named the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for his work against then-No. 3 Arizona State in a 2-1 Wildcats win on Saturday.
 
Wilkinson finished with a stellar line of 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K (two intentional walks) in his first career appearance on the mound.
 
Wilkinson was called upon with a runner on third and one out in the sixth inning. He promptly recorded two strikeouts to strand a pair and preserve a 2-1 lead. With two on again in the seventh, he again picked up an inning ending strikeout. A three-up-three-down eighth set up a dramatic ninth inning for the freshman. With two outs, a pinch-hit single, walk and intentional walk loaded the bases. Wilkinson battled ASU's Trevor Hauver through an eight pitch at-bat that resulted in the game-clinching strikeout.
 
Wilkinson is the first Wildcat to win BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week since Pat Young on March 1, 2013. Additionally, he is just the second Villanova freshman to win the award, joining Drew Baylor who earned the honor on April 29, 1996. He's the first freshman in the conference to win it since Sean Mooney of St. John's won it twice during the 2017 season.
 
Villanova returns to action Friday with a 1 p.m. tilt against Maine in Buies Creek, NC. The weekend will also include a Saturday matchup with Campbell and a meeting with Purdue on Sunday.