MALIBU, Ca.-In their first game of the 2022 season, the Wildcats suffered a 13-3 loss to the Pepperdine Waves. Villanova drops to 0-1 to start the season as Pepperdine improves to 1-0.
 
Villanova's pitching staff struggled Friday with a total of 15 walks allowed through eight innings. Paired with a five-run second inning, the Waves had momentum the entire game which led to the decisive win.
 
Greg Mehlaff ripped a two-run homer in the second inning to give Pepperdine a 2-0 lead. Four at-bats later, John Peck followed up with a three-run homer of his own to put the Waves up 5-0.
 
After plating a runner on a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, Pepperdine added three more runs in the fifth highlighted by an RBI single from Peck to pad the lead to 9-0.
 
The Wildcats were able to break the seal in the sixth. Pat O'Neill led off the inning with a walk and later advanced to second on a balk. Joey Castellanos lined an RBI double to left which scored O'Neill and set the score at 9-1, Pepperdine. Villanova was able to add a pair of runs in the eighth by way of a Jack O'Reilly sacrifice fly and a run scoring on a fielder's choice but the scoring bid was too late. 
 
Inside the Box Score
Castellanos went 2-for-4 in his Wildcats debut with a double and two runs batted in.
O'Neill reached base three times and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
As a team, Villanova struck out 13 batters Friday afternoon.
Chic DeGaetano led the Wildcats with six strikeouts in three innings of work in relief.

Villanova returns to action Saturday at 4:00 pm for game two of the weekend series against Pepperdine. Cole Patten is slated to make his first start on the mound in a Villanova uniform.