NEW ORLEANS – Early offensive bursts for both Villanova and Tulane ended with a 3-3 tie in nine innings on Sunday afternoon at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium due to a travel curfew going into effect for the Wildcats.

This is the first draw that Villanova (3-13-1) has faced since the 2005 season when it recorded ties against Navy and Notre Dame and the 29^th since 1899. The 'Cats finish the series with Tulane (13-7-1) going 0-2-1 over the weekend.

Despite the draw, Villanova saw Wildcats reach base in seven innings. Chris Rotondo, Will Reiner and AJ Hansen all hit for extra bases in the contest. Rotondo and Reiner recorded doubles with Rotondo's extending his hitting streak to 16 straight games with a team-leading .369 batting average. Hansen throttled a two-out, full-count triple to left center late in the game, making him the only Wildcat this season with multiple triples. He was 2-for-3 on the day, adding on a single and reaching on a walk.

The pitching duo of Danny Wilkinson and Cameron Mathes combined for no earned runs allowed in 4 2/3 innings. Wilkinson fanned four in his 3 2/3 innings on the bump while Mathes struck out two.

Villanova took charge in the top of the second with one out on the board. Jack O'Reilly was hit by a pitch, allowing him to make his way to first before a groundout advanced him to second. John Whooley singled to left on the first pitch he faced to drive in O'Reilly. A passed ball later moved Whooley to second before Reiner sent a double to left center that sent Whooley racing home to make it 2-0.

One-out scoring came for Tulane as well in the bottom of the second after a single and a double down the left field line placed Chase Engelhard and Brady Marget at second and third, respectively. Simon Baumgardt sent a single through the left side to bring in both baserunners, tying the game 2-2.

The square match stood until the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded for the Green Wave.  Trevor Minder doubled with Groff getting walked behind, forcing the Wildcats to go to the pen and bring Wilkinson to the mound in relief for Brandon Siegenthaler with two runners on. The junior right-hander worked through 4 1/3 innings with 66 pitches. Bennett Lee was walked before Wilkinson sent Luis Aviles down looking for the second out of the frame. Marget was walked, shifting all the runners and bringing Minder home. A fielder's choice to short ended the threat of additional runs, giving Tulane a 3-2 lead.

Rotondo started the seventh with a lead-off double for the Wildcats. Joey Castellanos launched a single to center, bringing Rotondo around to tie it up, 3-3. Nothing else went for the 'Cats in the frame with the next two batters striking out and flying out.

Tulane got a runner all the way to third in the bottom of the eighth via a lead-off single for Marget who was subsequently pinch ran for by Brady Herbert. He made his way to third on a Wildcat fielding error and a fielder's choice that saw runners at the corners. A Jared Hart fly out to center kept Tulane off the board heading into the ninth.

Cameron Hassert singled through the left with one out in the ninth but Castellanos grounding into a double play ended Villanova's chance of breaking the tie. A quick 1-2-3 inning closed the book in the ninth with Mathes sending two Green Wave batters down swinging.

Michael Massey was efficient on the mound for the Green Wave. He allowed five hits in his 4 1/3 innings an earned run and seven strikeouts.

The 'Cats continue their road swing next weekend, this time heading to Richmond for a three-game series that starts on Friday with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch from Pitt Field.