MERION STATION, Pa. – The Villanova University baseball team fell to Saint Joseph's, 17-8, on Tuesday (April 29), at John W. Smithson Field.
 
Designated hitter Jason Neff continued to climb the record books in multiple categories after going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and five RBI, falling a triple short of the cycle. Neff's 2025 season is now tied for eighth in program history in home runs (13) and ranks 15th in RBI with 55. He has the most home runs and RBI in a single season by a Villanova player since Jeremy Hunt in 2006 (15 HR, 56 RBI).
 
Center fielder Austin Lemon reached base in all six plate appearances on the afternoon, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored, a double, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Lemon's on-base percentage sits at a team-best .462 on the year. He is the first Villanova player to reach base six times in a game since Donovan May in 2015.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawks (21-20) jumped out to a huge lead in the first inning, scoring six runs behind four hits and two walks.
 
However, the Wildcats (20-21) clawed back, scoring one run in the second off an RBI single by first baseman Collin Quintano. Then, in the top of the third, a three-run home run by Neff highlighted a four-run inning that pulled Villanova within one run of Saint Joseph's.
 
Despite a run scored by the Hawks in the bottom of the third, Villanova tied the game in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Neff drove a fly ball 398 feet into center field that got down to score two runs, tying the game at seven runs apiece. The 'Cats loaded the bases later in the inning, but were unable to bring the go-ahead run home.
 
The Hawks answered Villanova's comeback push immediately with four runs in the bottom half of the fourth, retaking an 11-7 lead. The two teams then traded runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth, bringing the score to 12-8.
 
Saint Joseph's broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five runs behind two hits: a two-run double and a three-run home run.
 
The nine-run deficit was too much for the Wildcats to overcome in the late innings, as the Hawks took the 17-8 win. Ethan Bowen improved to 1-0 with the win for Saint Joseph's, while Graham Moore fell to 1-3 with the loss.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Neff has posted a team-best three games with five-plus RBI this season.
• Neff has 22 home runs during his Villanova career, 11th most in school history. After hitting 16 over two seasons (2022-2023) at Richmond, his 38 career collegiate home runs would be tied for second most in Villanova history.

 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will host UConn in a three-game series this weekend at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. Friday's game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET, and all three games will be streamed live on FloSports.