CINCINNATI – Facing an 8-1 deficit late and a potential no-hitter, Villanova surged back with six runs scored in the final three innings to get within one but could not complete the comeback, falling to Xavier 8-7 on Thursday at Hayden Field.

It took 6 1/3 innings of action for Villanova (12-17-1, 3-4 BIG EAST) to get a hit in the contest when August Biggio connected on a double. The only run Villanova had posted on Xavier (18-17, 2-2 BIG EAST) to that point came on a bases-loaded walk. The Wildcats went on to score six runs on six hits down the home stretch after being sat down in order by the Musketeers defense in four innings, three of those in the first five frames.

Both Chris Rotondo and Joey Castellanos provided timely hits for the 'Cats in the loss, each accounting for two RBI each. Rotondo went 2-for-5 with both of his hits being doubles and picking up a run. Castellanos extended his hitting streak to 15 games on a 1-for-3 day, his lone hit being a shot down the left field line that brought Villanova within three.

After a single to open the bottom of the first and back-to-back strikeouts from Cole Patten, Tyler Demartino sent a homerun over the leftfield wall to give Xavier a 2-0 lead.

The Musketeers doubled their lead in the bottom of the third on another two-run homer. Ethan Hodge started the frame with a lead-off single up the middle before Jerry Huntzinger sent the first pitch he saw over left field to make it 4-0.

In the top of the fourth with one out recorded, both Jack O'Reilly and Joey Castellanos were hit by pitches before Will Reiner was walked to load up the bases with two outs. AJ Hansen was shown for straight balls to move him to first and bring O'Reilly across, cutting the Villanova deficit to 4-1. Xavier turned to the bullpen for the second time, bringing in Barnett to end the Wildcats' chance of adding on with a fly out to right center, leaving the bases loaded and keeping Villanova without a hit in the contest.

Patten sat down his fourth batter of the day in the bottom of the fourth to strand two Musketeers. As the game turned to the top of the sixth, Villanova was met with its third 1-2-3 inning of the day, still without a hit.

The top of the fifth saw Xavier get a pair of singles to place runners on the corners for Luke Franzoni. He doubled down the left field line to score Huntzinger before a DeMartino single through the left side brought in Luke Housinger, making it a 6-1 lead for the Musketeers. With runners on the corners yet again, Andrew Walker was able to reach on an error by Hansen on the throw to Patten who was covering first, scoring Franzoni to push the lead to 7-1. The next three batters were retired in order to end any further damage in the frame.

Patten notched his fifth K of the day to start the bottom of the sixth. Huntzinger was walked following that and then advanced to third on a steal and a wild pitch. Housinger laced a sacrifice fly out to left field to bring Huntzinger home to add a run and force Villanova to turn to the bullpen for Jonathan Cole. Patten finished his outing with eight runs allowed on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched, walking two and fanning five in the loss to move to 2-5 on the year.

Biggio broke up the no-hitter in the top of the seventh with a double to move Hansen to second after he was hit by a pitch. Chris Rotondo also delivered a double two batters later, sending his shot down the left field line to send Biggio and Hansen home, cutting into the lead 8-3.

Jack O'Reilly was struck out swinging to start the eighth but reached on a wild pitch, bringing Castellanos up. Facing an 0-2 count, he hammered his fourth long ball of the season to get Villanova within three at 8-5. John Whooley singled to center before Reiner made his way to first on a walk. Hansen reached on a fielder's choice with Reiner caught out at second, placing runners on the corners. A passed ball advanced the runners, sending Whooley racing 90 feet home to make it an 8-6 game.

Cole Vanderslice entered the game in the eight, retiring the Musketeers in order. He and Cole combined for 2 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball, with Cole allowing two hits and a strikeout.

Rotondo led off the top of the ninth with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a groundout from Pat O'Neill. After a Xavier pitching change, O'Reilly knocked an 0-2 pitch through the right side to send Rotondo touching home and getting Villanova within one at 8-7. O'Reilly got into scoring position on a wild pitch and a walk to Castellanos put runners on first and second but they were left standing on a fly out and a final strikeout.

Game two of the series is set for 1 p.m. Friday with Tyler Arella getting the start for Villanova.