WALDORF, Md. – After leading by as many as three runs on Friday afternoon, a four-run fifth for Georgetown led Villanova to a 9-6 loss at Regency Furniture Stadium to open BIG EAST play.

Joey Castellanos led Villanova (7-14-1, 0-1 BIG EAST) with a 2-for-5 effort, launching a home run with two RBI. Will Reiner also batted in a pair of runs, going 1-for-3 and was walked. Georgetown (17-9, 1-0 BIG EAST) pitchers held Villanova batters to six runs on nine hits, being fanned 10 times.

With runners at second and third, a wild pitch to AJ Hansen was enough to bring John Whooley across, giving Villanova a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. That lead did not last long with Georgetown opening its half of the second with back-to-back homers from Andrew Ciufo and Owen Carapellotti to take over, 2-1.

Joey Castellanos stepped up to the plate in the top of the third with Pat O'Neill at first. He ripped a long ball over the left field wall to put the game back in Villanova's hands, 3-2.

The bottom of the fifth saw Carapellotti double down the left field line, bringing Ciufo across to tie the game, 3-3.

Villanova started to pour on the runs in the top of the fifth, starting with Whooley reaching on a fielding error that sent O'Neill home. One batter later, Will Reiner doubled to left center, allowing Whooley and Cameron Hassert to safely cross, pushing the lead to 6-3.

Georgetown answered with a four-run sixth to surge back ahead.

After a single and walk put Hoyas on first and second before Ubaldo Lopez singled to left to send Michael Eze in. With runners on the corners a bit later, Carapellotti struck again, this time with a two-run triple to right, evening the contest. Andrew Bergeron reached on a throwing error at first with Carapellotti trotting in to make it 7-6, Georgetown.

Villanova was sent down in order in the top of the sixth before Devin Rivera came in to pitch for the 'Cats. That closed the book on a five-inning day for Cole Patten who recorded the loss, pitching five innings and allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks. In the Georgetown half of the inning, Eze sent a shot over the left field wall for an 8-6 advantage.

Carapellotti delivered the final run of the game for the Hoyas in the bottom of the seventh, homering to right.  He ended a single short of the cycle.

For the first time since the season-opener, Chris Rotondo went hitless, snapping his 20-game hitting streak. He also did not make it on base, ending a 50-game streak of reaching.

Saturday's meeting is set to start at 2 p.m. with Tyler Arella on the mound for the Wildcats.