Port Charlotte, Fla. – Villanova's offense got hot and could not be stopped during a 16-1 rout of the St. Louis Billikens (6-4) Sunday afternoon in Port Charlotte. The win was Villanova's (5-4) largest since defeating Mount St. Mary's 21-4 in 2015.
 
Eight different Wildcats recorded an RBI, with four having multiple RBIs. Freshman catcher John Whooley, making his first career start, led all players by driving in four on the day.
 
It was an empty-the-bench kind of game, with sixteen different Wildcats getting an at-bat, most of them getting more than one.
 
Brandon Siegenthaler (1-1) got the starting nod for Villanova and surrendered a run in the first. After two singles to the first two batters, a pair of groundouts plated a run, but the freshman had dialed in. Siegenthaler did not allow another runner past first base until the sixth, when he stranded a runner on second after a one-out double.
 
Villanova only trailed for a half inning, responding to the run with a five-run second inning. Lucas Latrenta led off with a single and was moved to third on a Dylan McNary double. The fireworks were largely done in the inning, with the runs being scored on two fielder's choices, a passed ball, sac fly and error.
 
Villanova blew the game open in the fifth with a four-spot. Latrenta continued his hot streak and went deep to left field for a two-run blast. Jeff Manto stayed hot as well with an RBI single in the frame and Whooley picked up an RBI on a sac fly.
 
Even with a 9-1 lead, the offense was far from done. Villanova put up six more in the sixth inning and batted around for the second time (also did so in the second inning). Ryan Toohers, AJ Hansen, Chris Rotondo and Whooley drove in runs during the inning to push the lead to 15-1.
 
Rotondo added one more with a sac fly in the eighth to cap the scoring and give Villanova a 15-run lead.  
 
While the offense was great, the pitching was stellar again as well. After Siegenthaler turned in six innings allowing only four hits, one run, zero walks and striking out two, the bullpen shut the door in the final three innings.
 
Jack Povey, Cam Kovachik and Chic DeGaetano (making his debut) each tossed an inning and combined to allow just one hit and two walks while striking out two and keeping the Billikens off the board.
 
With the win, the Wildcats move to 5-4 and back above .500. This is the latest in a season the 'Cats have been above .500 since 2012.
 
Villanova will have another chance to tally one in the win column with a matchup against Western Michigan on Tuesday, March 3 at 11:00 a.m. in Port Charlotte.