MERION STATION, Pa.—Junior shortstop Dylan McNary (Jefferson, Mass.) hit a grand slam and Villanova (11-2) kept rolling with its biggest offensive output of the season in a 16-5 win over Saint Joseph's (5-4) at Smithson Field in the first game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. The win was the 11^th straight for the Wildcats, who are now riding their longest winning streak in 28 years. Senior center fielder Chris Rotondo (Redding, Conn.) also homered for Villanova, which had 15 hits and drew a season-high 10 walks.
 
Senior first baseman Ryan Toohers (Florham Park, N.J.) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI to raise his season batting average to a team-high .354 through 13 games. Fifth-year senior Nick Oar (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) also had three hits and scored two runs, while McNary and junior catcher Will Reiner (Darien, Conn.) each had two hits and two runs scored. Oar and Reiner each tripled, while Rotondo was on base four times with three walks to go along with a three-run home run.
 
The onslaught of runs was more than enough support for junior starting pitcher Gordon Graceffo (Cranford, N.J.) in another successful day at the office. Graceffo (3-0, 1.17 ERA) scattered two earned runs on seven hits over seven innings of work. He walked two and struck out nine while winning his seventh consecutive decision dating back to last season. Graceffo allowed single runs to the Hawks in the top of the fourth and sixth innings, but already had a big lead at that point as the Wildcats scored eight runs in the first three innings.
 
Villanova led 8-0 after a six-run outburst in the third inning, then stretched an 8-2 lead with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings and another six-run burst in the bottom of the eighth. Saint Joseph's hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to close the scoring. After the teams cancelled Friday's scheduled game at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth due to the cold temperatures, the Wildcats played as the home team at Smithson Field in the opening game of Saturday's twin-bill. The second game started at 3:45 p.m. with the Hawks the home team in the nightcap.
 
Oar tripled to center field with one out in the bottom of the second inning and Reiner followed with another triple to the gap in left-center which brought home the first run of the day. After a walk to Rotondo, sophomore right fielder Jack O'Reilly (Villanova, Pa.) beat out a relay throw to first on a fielder's choice and Reiner came home with the second run of the inning.
 
Villanova sent 11 men to the plate in the third inning. Toohers led off with a ground-rule double to left center and scored the first run of the inning on a fielder's choice with sophomore designated hitter Lucas Latrenta (Greenwich, Conn.) batting. McNary and Oar continued the rally with consecutive singles, with an error on Oar's base hit through the left side allowing Latrenta to score. Saint Joseph's starting pitcher Luke Zimmerman (1-1, 12.27 ERA) got Reiner to foul out for the second out of the inning, but Rotondo drove a 1-2 pitch over the fence in straightaway center field for a three-run home run. O'Reilly and Lorusso drew consecutive walks before Toohers capped the inning with an RBI single to right against relief pitcher Luke Smith.
 
Graceffo gave up his first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning on doubles by Nate Thomas and Tim Cavanaugh, but he retired the final two batters of the inning and stranded Cavanaugh at third after he advanced on a one-out wild pitch. There were two outs and nobody on in the sixth inning when Brandon Drapeau singled to center, advanced to third on consecutive walks and scored on Adam Fine's single up the middle. Graceffo struck out the final batter of the inning however, and worked around a leadoff error in the top of the seventh inning to set down the final three batters he faced.
 
There was still plenty more to come from the Wildcats offense. Senior second baseman Pat O'Neill (Eagleville, Pa.) was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the sixth inning, and sophomore Matt Pinone (Royersford, Pa.) pinch hit and was also hit by a pitch. Oar doubled with one out to drive in Pinone, while O'Neill hit an RBI double in the seventh inning to drive in Toohers after he drew a one-out walk.
 
The state was set for a big inning in the bottom of the eighth after Reiner reached on a dropped fly ball in right field to start the inning, O'Reilly walked with one out and junior third baseman Nick Lorusso (Monroe, Conn.) drew another walk to load the bases. Toohers lined a two-run single to center field and O'Neill singled to load the bases for the second time in the inning. McNary batted with two outs and hit a 2-2 pitch to left for his first career grand slam.
 
Thomas homered with one out in the ninth inning before sophomore reliever Chic DeGaetano (Sugarloaf, Pa.) retired the final two batters of the game on a strikeout and a groundout to third.
 
NOTES: Villanova's last 11-game winning streak was from April 8-21, 1993 … The current streak is one of 12 winning streaks in school history of at least 10 games … As part of the Wildcats streak, they went 9-0 in March to record their most successful month since going 11-0 in May 1965 … Villanova's 16 runs were its most since a 16-1 win over Saint Louis on March 1, 2020 … The 10 walks issued to the Wildcats were the most since Villanova drew 10 walks against Lafayette on April 2, 2019 … McNary's grand slam was the team's first since Timothy Lilly hit a grand slam against Mount St. Mary's on March 3, 2019 … Since the start of the 2020 season, Graceffo is 7-0 with a 1.29 ERA over eight starts.