PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – In the weekend rubber match at Villanova Ballpark, one swing of the bat proved to be the difference maker as the Connecticut Huskies (25-16 overall, 9-4 BIG EAST) blasted a three-run homerun in the fifth inning to defeat the Villanova Wildcats (19-13 overall, 7-11) by a final score of 4-3. The game was the final home game for the Wildcats who finish the season 11-6 on their home turf.
 
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Wildcats rebounded in the third inning when AJ Hansen (Collegeville, Pa.) opened the frame with an infield single. Chris Rotondo (Redding, Conn.) would stay scorching out when he smacked a triple in the right center gap scoring Hansen to even the score. On the weekend, Rotondo knocked three extra base hits which increased his yearly total to 19. Following the triple, Nick Lorusso (Monroe, Conn.) battled and won a 3-2 pitch by grounding out to shortstop and scoring Rotondo for the 2-1 lead.
 
Rookie Devin Rivera (Valley Cottage, N.Y.) received the ball for his second career start and allowed four hits across 4.1 innings of work and struck out four. The Huskies opened the fifth frame with a leadoff single before Rivera picked up a strikeout. A walk to Zach Bushling ended Rivera's afternoon as both runners were his responsibility with southpaw Danny Wilkinson (Scotch Plains, N.J.) coming into relief. After falling behind 3-0, Wilkinson battled his way back into the count before the Huskies leadoff man, Kyler Fedko sent a three-run homerun over the wall in right center. Wilkinson settled in and retired the next two batters of the inning in route to two clean innings.
 
Villanova would add one run in the sixth when Nick Lorusso singled up the middle and Ryan Toohers (Florham Park, N.J.) walked allowing Jack O'Reilly to rip a double into left center scoring Lorusso. With the tying run on third, the Huskies would escape the jam with a strikeout and groundout to shortstop. The Wildcats next best scoring opportunity came in the eighth inning when Nick Lorusso hit a one-out single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Ryan Toohers drew a walk before the Huskies picked up consecutive strikeouts to end the rally.
 
Despite the loss, the Wildcats pitching staff combined to strike out 11 on the afternoon while surrendering six hits. At the plate, Nick Lorusso led the charge with two hits and improved his season batting average to .304.
 
Connecticut starting pitcher Pat Gallagher gave the Huskies another quality start after tossing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on three hits with six strikeouts. The bullpen was lockdown allowing two hits across 3.2 innings and no runs. Connecticut had six different players tally a hit, but Kyler Fedko led the offense with three RBI's.
 
Villanova will close out their regular season this week when they travel to St. John's for a conference series. Game one is scheduled for Thursday, May 20 with first pitch at 6:00 ET from Queens, N.Y. Be sure to follow @VUBaseball on Twitter and @villanovabaseball on Instagram for updates throughout the season.