VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova will kick off their 2023 season with a trip to Peoria, Arizona to take on both Washington State (WSU) and UC Riverside for a weekend series. All three teams are slated to open with a doubleheader on Friday with game one against WSU at 12:00 p.m. MST (2:00 p.m. EST) and UC Riverside at 4:00 p.m. MST (6:00 p.m. EST) for game two. The series will conclude on Saturday with one last meeting with WSU at 4:00 p.m. MST (6:00 p.m. EST). Fans can watch each game via WSU Live Stream.
 
Projected Starters:

Friday, February 17 | 12:00 p.m. MST | 2:00 p.m. EST
Villanova: Sal Fusco
WSU: Dakota Hawkins
 
Friday, February 17 | 2:00 p.m. MST | 6:00 p.m. EST
Villanova: Devin Rivera
UC Riverside: Blake Burzell
 
Saturday, February 18 | 2:00 p.m. MST | 6:00 p.m. EST
Villanova: TBD
WSU: Grant Taylor
 

It Feels Like The First Time: This will be the first ever meeting between Villanova and both WSU and UC Riverside.

2022 Rewind: Villanova was selected seventh in the BIG EAST preseason coaches' poll after a 19-29-1 (8-12 BIG EAST) record in 2022. The Wildcats finished fifth in the BIG EAST last season, graduating 11 members of that roster.

'Cats in the Pros: Two graduating members of last years squad, Chris Rotondo and Cole Patten were selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Rotondo was selected in the 19^th round by the St. Louis Cardinals and Wilkinson was taken in the 17^th round by the Detroit Tigers. Danny Wilkinson also made his way into the MLB by signing with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent. Former Villanova pitcher Gordon Graceffo was named the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year. The former Wildcat struck out 83 while allowing 76 hits, 44 runs (41 earned) and walked 24. 

Welcome Back: Villanova welcomes back 17 members of last seasons team including this year's captains Will Reiner, AJ Hansen, and Jack O'Reilly. The graduate student and starting catcher, Reiner, comes off a strong season slashing a .225/.361/.333 which resulted in 31 hits, six doubles, three homeruns, and 23 RBI. Behind the plate Reiner amassed 273 putouts and 29 assists. On the mound Villanova returns senior Chic DeGaetano who had a solid 2022 season appearing in 17 games with nine starts, owning a 4-0 record with a 5.79 ERA over 51.1 innings pitched and striking out 47.

New 'Cats on the Block:  Villanova welcomes a slew of 16 new recruits and transfers to their ranks for the start of the 2023 season. The transfers hail from Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island coming from various collegiate institutions including Binghamton, Colby, Franklin & Marshall, Seton Hall, Swarthmore, and UMass-Lowell. The freshman are natives of Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
 

Cross Examining the Cougars

• WSU closed out their 2022 season with a 27-26 (12-18 PAC 12) record.
• Cougars' catcher Jake Meyer signed a free agent contract with the Colorado Rockies in August of 2022. Former WSU first baseman Kyle Manzardo was named the Tampa Bay Rays 2022 Minor League Player of the Year.
• Jacob McKeon was named to the Preseason All-PAC-12 team after putting on a show in 2022 slashing an impressive .348/.446/.584 hitting 15 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 32 RBIs. 
• Chase Grillo, a redshirt sophomore, came in clutch for the Cougars last season as a strong relief choice out of the bullpen. Grillo posted a 4.55 ERA resulting in 50 strikeouts over 31.2 innings pitched.

 
High Notes on the Highlanders

• UC Riverside concluded their 2022 season with an 8-45 (4-26 Big West) record.
• One UCR product was selected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Pitcher Zach Jacobs was taken in the 18th round by the Cleveland Guardians.
• Andrew Rivas had a standout freshman year with high expectations for the Highlanders finishing the 2022 season slashing .248/.323/.348 resulting in four doubles, two triples, two home runs, 21 RBI, scoring 18 runs. In the field he made 61 putouts on a total of 68 chances.
• Junior Anthony Mata also had a strong season in 2022 producing a slash line of .223/.312/.295 and yielding five doubles, two triples, one home run, 10 stolen bases, 15 RBIs, and 21 runs scored.
• Matt Andriese, Joe Kelly, Chris Smith, and Marc Rzepczynski headline the list of Pepperdine products who played in the majors. Since 1975, the Highlanders have produced 19 players who have appeared in the majors.