STORRS, Conn. – Villanova got within a run late after being held scoreless through six innings but two UConn runs in the eighth could not be answered, falling 4-1 at Elliot Ballpark on Friday night.

Junior catcher John Whooley collected his seventh multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-3 outing. He was the only Villanova (14-19-1, 4-6) batter to have multiple hits, knocking a single and double, the only extra-base hit the group got off of UConn (31-7, 7-0).

The Wildcats had runners in scoring position in three separate innings that the Huskies left standing. UConn pitchers tallied nine strikeouts led by a seven from starter Austin Peterson who pitched 8 1/3 innings.

Villanova put two men on to open the second with Joey Castellanos pushing a base knock up the middle and Whooley working a four-pitch walk. Cameron Hassert grounded out to third on a sacrifice bunt to push the runners into scoring position, but nothing showed for the 'Cats with a strikeout and groundout ending their chance.

The scoreless affair went into the bottom of the third when UConn struck for its first of back-to-back innings of scoring for an early 2-0 lead.

With runners on the corners, Casey Dana sent a look toward Pat O'Neill, but he bobbled the pick-up before he could make the toss to second, bringing in the lead runner. UConn doubled its lead in the fourth on a two-out RBI single through the left side from David Smith. He ended up making his way to third to threaten another run, but Cole Patten ended that threat with his lone strikeout of the evening to close the frame.

The Wildcat defense quickly put two away in the fifth with a 6-3 double play, emptying the bases two batters into the UConn half of the inning.  Dana singled to left to put a man on for the Huskies but a ground out left him standing. The 'Cats turned another double play in the bottom half of the sixth, this time on a 6-4-3 twin killing to help Patten face the minimum for the first time in the contest. Those double plays mark the most turned in a single game for Villanova this season.

Villanova cut into the lead in the seventh with its first run of the day.

With one out and two on thanks to Castellanos getting hit by a pitch and Whooley singling to center, Hassert put down a hit that was picked up by Austin Peterson and tossed home to get Castellanos, putting runners at first and second. AJ Hansen gave the Wildcats another scoring chance, this time sending a single through the left side to score Whooley from second, getting back within one at 2-1.

UConn extended its lead in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double from Ben Huber, forcing Villanova to turn to the bullpen to bring in Cole Vanderslice. He plunked Matt Donlan, sending him to first before a wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position. Christian Fedko delivered a sacrifice fly to center to bring another run across, pushing UConn's lead to 4-1. Patrick Montfort came to the mound with two outs, sending David Smith down swinging to close the door on the inning.

Patten scattered seven hits with four runs, three earned while walking four to move to 2-6 on the year.

Villanova had a chance to get back into it, bringing the tying run to the plate with runners on second and third after Whooley hit a ground-rule double to right center with one out on the board. The Huskies turned to Justin Willis who struck out the next two batters to end it.

The series continues on Saturday with a 2:05 first pitch. Tyler Arella is set to start for the Wildcats.