PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – An early Villanova lead saw Creighton post seven unanswered runs, falling in the series-opener 7-1 at the Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth on Thursday.

Most of the runs scored against Villanova (19-28-1, 8-11) came with two outs on the board against the Creighton (29-16, 14-5) batters, plating four of their seven in such scenarios. From the plate, the 'Cats were just 4-for-14 with two outs while the Bluejays were 8-for-16.

Chris Rotondo plated the lone run for Villanova on a lead-off home run, marking his 12^th of the year to move into a tie for 9^th on the program's single season records list. He also moved up the career ledger with 20, putting him just three shy of the top 10 in Villanova history.

The Wildcats sent the Bluejays down in order in the top of the first ahead of Rotondo's homer. He slammed the rocket over the right field wall for his second lead-off home run in three games to make it a 1-0 lead for Villanova.

In the second inning, Will Reiner threw a laser to shortstop Pat O'Neill to catch Chris Esposito attempting to steal second, marking the 14th runner he has caught stealing this season, tying him for fifth in program history. He now has 30 in his career, holding a share of the third most in Villanova history.

Creighton took control in the fourth with a three-run frame.

With two on via walks and one out in the top of the fourth, Esposito laced a go-ahead double deep into left center, scoring two Bluejays for a 2-1 lead. He ended up coming around a bit later on a single to left by Andrew Meggs to make it a 3-1 game.

Villanova had a chance to threaten in the bottom of the fourth, loading up the bases on a pair of singles and an error on the pitcher. Joey Castellanos worked into a 2-2 count but was sat down looking by Dylan Tebrake to end the inning with the eighth strikeout by the Bluejays' ace starter.

The Bluejays tacked on another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Sterling Hayes to shallow left where Connor Hale made a diving catch. He threw down to home in an attempt to get the lead-runner but Jared Wegner crossed safely, pushing the Creighton lead out to 4-1.

Devin Rivera entered in the top of the eighth in relief of Tyler Arella (5-3). The starter went seven innings, scattering six hits with four runs, three walks and four strikeouts. Rivera sent the first two batters he faced down on a strikeout and a groundout, but Creighton then started working on two-out hitting.

Back-to-back singles placed runners on first and second for Nolan Clifford who looped a single to left. Hale made the throw home for a bang-bang play that saw Clifford get just past the tag from Reiner to make it a 5-1 game and sending Villanova to the bullpen for Patrick Montfort. Hogan Helligso sent a single to center, bringing two more runs across for a 6-1 Creighton advantage.
 
Cole Vanderslice entered top open the ninth, ending Montfort's outing. The 'Cats worked a double play to get two outs on the board, but Creighton grabbed ahold of more two-out hitting. A walk, a single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the Bluejays. Vanderslice threw a wild pitch toward the plate, scoring Hayes from third for the final run Creighton at 7-1.

Villanova could not find an answer in the ninth. Castellanos had a two-out hit of his own with a single to left, but he was left standing after a fly out.

Game two of the series is set for Friday at 3 p.m. with Cole Patten starting on the hill for the Wildcats.