INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – The Villanova Wildcats (13-9 OVERALL, 1-7 BIG EAST) paired a remarkable start from Gordon Graceffo (Cranford, N.J.) with 11 timely hits to surge past the Butler Bulldogs (8-16 OVERALL, 3-7 BIG EAST) in game two of the three game weekend series. The junior right-hander improved his record to 4-2 after tossing eight innings while surrendering four hits, one run, and striking out five.
 
Villanova gave their ace a cushion early in the first inning when they pushed two quick runs across the plate. Chris Rotondo (Redding, Conn.) led off the game and smoked a triple into right center before Nick Lorusso (Monroe, Conn.) scored him on a groundout to shortstop. The Wildcats were not done as Ryan Toohers (Florham Park, N.J.) and Jack O'Reilly (Villanova, Pa.) both singled before Cameron Hassert (Longmont, Colo.) drew a walk and Pat O'Neill (Eagleville, Pa.) was hit by a pitch.
 
Graceffo would cruise into the bottom of the fifth inning before Butler applied pressure. The Bulldogs used back-to-back singles and a wild pitch to manufacture their only run of the game. The junior would go on to strand the tying run by picking up a strike out to end the inning.
 
The Villanova offense erupted early in the seventh inning as Dylan McNary (Jefferson, Mass.) opened the inning with a double into left field. Chris Rotondo worked a walk before Nick Lorusso smacked a double down the left field line scoring McNary. The doubles were not over yet as Ryan Toohers stepped in and knocked a double into centerfield plating Lorusso. A wild pitch would allow Toohers to score before the Bulldogs worked out of the jam.
 
In the top of the eighth inning, the Wildcats added two insurance runs. Jeff Manto (Bristol, Pa.) pinch hit and sent a double down the right field line before Chris Rotondo left the yard for a two-run homerun. The round tripper was the second this season for the senior and third of his career.
 
The Wildcats saw seven different batters contribute a hit while Chris Rotondo, Nick Lorusso, and Ryan Toohers each had a multi-hit performance. The offense was patient in the box again drawing five walks on the afternoon. Following Graceffo's dominant eight inning performance, Cameron Mathes (Broomall, Pa.) took the hill and tossed a clean ninth picking up two strikeouts. The senior made his 11^th appearance on the season and third consecutive appearance without allowing a run out of the bullpen.
 
Connor Schultz got the start for Butler and threw six innings giving up six runs on eight hits. Brody McGrath led the Bulldog offense with two hits
 
The final game of the weekend series between the two teams will be capped off tomorrow, Apr. 25 at 12:00 ET. Be sure to follow @VUBaseball on Twitter and @villanovabaseball on Instagram for updates throughout the season.