CINCINNATI – Villanova closed a five-run gap to get within one but seven Xavier runs off of three homers late extinguished the comeback bid as Villanova fell 11-5 to close the series at Hayden Field.

Both Will Reiner and Chris Rotondo jammed solo shots for Villanova (13-18-1, 4-5 BIG EAST) late to keep the Wildcats within reach, but Luke Franzoni's second homer of the day for Xavier (19-18, 3-3 BIG EAST) drove in the final three runs needed in the game. He was one of three Musketeers to get a look over the wall. Their five home runs are the most hit off of the Villanova pitching staff this season.

Aside from the home run duo, the only other Wildcat to hit for extra bases was Pat O'Neill. He went 2-for 5 with an RBI double, the only Villanova player to have more than one hit in the contest.

First-pitch long balls gave Xavier an early lead.

With two outs on the board and a runner on second after a single and a fielding error, Tyler DeMartino sent the first pitch he faced flying over the left field wall for a 2-0 Xavier lead in the bottom of the first. Jared Cushing provided a similar solo shot in the second to make it a three-run lead. Both runners in scoring position made their way home on a Franzoni double down the left field line, extending the Xavier lead to 5-0.

AJ Hansen was hit by a pitch to open the third before August Biggio singled to right, putting men on the corners for Shane Solari. The freshman right fielder pushed a base knock through to left, scoring Hansen from third to cut the Xavier lead to four at 5-1.

Villanova stopped Xavier from adding runs in the third and fourth, leaving a combined three Musketeers stranded in that time.

Solari worked a walk to start the fourth before advancing on a wild pitch. O'Neill doubled to left center to score Solari before Jack O'Reilly hacked a single to left center as well, plating O'Neill and shorting the lead to 5-3.
After a pair of walks and a fielding error loaded the bases, Villanova turned to the bullpen, bringing in Devin Rivera for Brandon Siegenthaler. He pitched out of the jam with a fly out to center to leave the bases full and close the inning. Siegenthaler went 4 2/3 innings with five runs on nine hits, fanning five and walking three in the loss.

Xavier made a call to the pen heading into the sixth, bringing Bryce Barnett in to face Reiner. He sent the second pitch he faced sailing over the right field wall to make it a one-run game, but Villanova could not add on more in the frame with the next three batters all striking out.

With a runner on via a walk to open the bottom of the sixth, Franzoni sent another long ball to left, getting Xavier back ahead by three at 7-4. DeMartino followed that home run with another to left, making it an 8-4 game.
Rotondo put the 'Cats back within three with a solo bomb to left center to lead off the seventh for an 11-8 deficit, but nothing else could go for Villanova in the frame.

Xavier put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the inning. With runners at second and third, Housinger put down a fielder's choice he reached on with Hodge advancing to third and Hansen getting the lead runner out at home for the second out of the inning. Franzoni came up and homered to left, bringing in the final three runs Xavier needed.

Patrick Montfort entered to pitch in the bottom of the eighth after an inning of work from Jonathan Cole. He stopped any further work by the Musketeers with three straight strikeouts. It was the only 1-2-3 inning the Villanova defense saw on the day.

Villanova heads to Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, April 19 for the Liberty Bell Classic Championship. First pitch from Philadelphia is set for 7 p.m.