SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – After taking hold of an early 2-0 lead, a pair of errors on one play squandered the advantage as Villanova fell to Seton Hall 3-2 in BIG EAST action on Sunday at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Stadium.

Chris Rotondo led the Villanova (18-27-1, 8-10) effort from the plate with a 3-for-4 outing, crossing home for both of the team's runs. All three of his hits were for extra bases, looping a pair of doubles and a home run. He was the only Wildcat to get multiple hits off of Seton Hall (17-33, 6-11).

The Pirates pitching staff struck out Villanova batters 10 times for a third straight contest while Wildcat pitchers sat down just three batters on strikes.

Rotondo set the tone with the very first pitch, sending it sailing over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead. That marked his 11^th round-tripper of the year and the 19^th of his career.

Connor Hale singled to open the top of the third, bringing Rotondo back up. He sent another long ball toward left center that was tracked by Mark McNelly. He tried to make the snag but ended up bobbling it, giving Rotondo a double that he ended up running toward third on a relay to the plate. McNelly threw in to shortstop Jonathan Luders who made the final toss to catcher Jedier Hernandez at the plate just in time to get Hale out at home. Rotondo eventually tagged home for a second time on the day thanks to a sacrifice fly to right by Joey Castellanos to double the lead.

Seton Hall brought the game even thanks to a single from McNelly that came up with a pair of Wildcat errors.

With Alex Clyde at first, he hit a shot toward Rotondo in center who tried to make a play on the ball after it bounced off the ground but misread it with the ball going over his head and behind him. Clyde made his way around to score as Hale threw in toward Pat O'Neill, attempting to get McNelly out at third. His throw went wide, bringing McNelly across on the error, making it a 2-2 game.

Clyde and McNelly led off the home half of the fifth with a double and a single to put runners on the corners for Devin Hack. He hit into a double play to get the first two outs, but Clyde safely crossed home to give Seton Hall a 3-2 lead.

Cameron Mathes came into the game to start the bottom of the seventh, closing the day for Jonathan Cole (0-3) at six innings pitched with seven runs scattered, one earned run against him and a pair of strikeouts. The first two batters he faced reached on a walk and single before getting two outs on a pop out toward the mound and a fly out. From there, the Wildcats turned to the bullpen again, bringing in Danny Wilkinson to close the door on any advances. A wild pitch to Hack moved both runners into scoring position but a fly out ended the threat, stranding both Pirates.

Wilkinson faced another jam in the bottom of the eighth with runners on the corners. Facing a 2-2 count, he delivered a massive strikeout to sit down Saturday's hero Status Pokrovsky and keep Villanova within one heading into the ninth. Jack O'Reilly was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 offering, sending him to first but he was left there on a pair of swinging strikeouts and a fly out.

Villanova is back at home on Tuesday against Fordham to start the final homestand of the year with four games in five days. First pitch from the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth is set for 3 p.m.