Box Score PEORIA, Ariz. – Villanova suffered a tough 22-7 loss to Washington State (WSU) in their second matchup of the weekend.

The Wildcats began the competition with a scoreless first inning due to senior pitcher Chic DeGaetano striking out three batters of the four he batters faced.

Villanova was first to draw blood on the scoreboard when graduate transfer Steve Grober scored after junior August Biggio hit a hard grounder to the first baseman who was unable to make the play. The Wildcats came out of the top of the second inning leading the Cougars 1-0. The bottom of the second inning was tough for the 'Cats in an effort to combat WSU's hot bats getting out of the inning down two runs.

Senior first baseman Jack O'Reilly got Villanova back in the game hitting a single up the middle to send graduate transfer Craig Larsen home in the top of the third. The Cougars fired back at the Wildcats adding another three runs their score to end the third and three more in the bottom of the fourth to lead the 'Cats 9-2. Villanova made two pitching changes in the fourth with junior pitcher Patrick Montfort getting the 'Cats back on track.

The Wildcats were not quite ready to throw in the towel coming into the fifth with new energy. O'Reilly got things going with a single to left field, followed up by Grober clipping a double to the same spot. Senior catcher John Whooley found his way on first on a walk. Graduate transfer Paul Cooke singled to right center with Grober scoring on the play. Whooley scored on the next play and Cooke reached home for the 9-6 end to the top of the fifth.

Montfort kept the Cougars at bay in the fifth and only gave up one run in the bottom sixth. Graduate transfer Luke Mutz singled up the middle and senior center fielder AJ Hansen turned on the jets and booked it home to put up another run to chip away at the Cougars lead.

The Cougars once again got the Villanova defense moving and active putting the ball in play on numerous occasions. WSU extended their lead to 12-7 by the end of the seventh.

Villanova made use of their large pitching staff with multiple calls to the bullpen trying to shut down the Cougar's bats but struggled to attain the last out in the bottom of the eighth. WSU's unrelenting offense tallied 10 runs in the half inning entering the ninth with a 15-run lead.

Despite Villanova giving it their best effort in the top of the ninth, they were unable to come back from such a large scoring deficit with a final score of 22-7.  

The 'Cats return to action next weekend for a three-game series at University of North Florida. The first game is on Friday Feb. 24, first pitch is set for a 6:05 p.m.