SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Villanova and San Francisco had a combined 21 hits in their final matchup on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats held the Dons scoreless for the first four innings until both teams' bats came alive in the middle of the game with San Francisco outslugging Villanova taking the 11-5 victory.
 
Shortstop Craig Larsen clipped two doubles, scored three runs, and batted in two runners on the day. First baseman Jack O'Reilly smashed a homer driving in two runs in the top of the seventh. Center fielder AJ Hansen flirted with the cycle hitting a single, a double, and a triple to result in one run and one RBI.
 
Starting pitcher, Chic DeGaetano held the Dons scoreless for four consecutive innings, fanning seven batters, picking off one runner over 4.1 innings pitched. DeGaetano only allowed three runs to be scored while on the hill.
 
After a scoreless three innings, the 'Cats made it on the board in the top of the fourth with two runners on and a Hansen single to left field to drive a runner in for the 1-0 lead.
 
It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth that the Dons answered back with three runs of their own to take the 3-1 advantage over the 'Cats. The Dons got two men on each by way of a single apiece. DeGaetano was relieved by Patrick Montfort with Montfort inheriting the two runners on. The Dons scored on an error made by the third baseman followed by another run scored due to a single. All three runs were credited against DeGaetano.
 
Cade Udell took the mound to start the bottom of the sixth walking the first couple batters who advanced on the base path into scoring position due to wild pitches. A sacrifice fly hit by Darius Foster drove in a run. A Tyler Martinez bunt led to two runners on for the Dons and a Harris Williams III double drove in two runs for the Dons to extend their lead. Christian Stapleton drove Williams III in later in the innings for one last San Francisco run to lead 7-1 heading into the seventh.
 
The 'Cats answered back in the top of the seventh starting with Hansen clipping a lead off double. Cameron Hassert walked to have a man at first and second. Larsen hit a two RBI double to left center field and advanced to third on an error by the shortstop. O'Reilly hammered a homer for two more runs scored to cut down the Dons lead to 7-5.
 
San Francisco's work on offense was not done kicking off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left center field by Will Asby and a single by TJ Rogers with Asby advancing to third. With two Dons on the corners, Ryan Martinez singled to left center field sending Asby home to make it an 8-5 game. Foster had an RBI ground out to the third baseman and Tyler Martinez sent his brother home on a double down the right line extending score to 10-5. Villanova called Cole Vanderslice up from the bullpen who gave up one more run before getting the 'Cats out of the inning.
 
A scoreless eighth innings lead to the 'Cats last chance in the top of the ninth but came up short taking the 11-5 loss to San Francisco.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return on Tuesday March 7 to face off with Cal Berkeley in a one game competition. First pitch is set for 6 pm PST/9pm EST.