PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.-A two-run seventh inning rally capped off by a walk-off single from Jack O'Reilly propelled Villanova past NJIT in game one of the series, 6-5.

Trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh, Chris Rotondo led off the inning with a single to give the Wildcats a runner on first. Villanova continued to use their national league type offensive strategy when Cameron Hassert laid down a bunt between the pitcher and the first baseman for a single. With Rotondo and Hassert on first and second, the duo pulled off a double steal to put runners in scoring position while Joey Castellanos was at bat. Castellanos lined an RBI single to right to score Rotondo to tie it at five. With runners on the corners, Jack O'Reilly stepped up the plate and played hero with a walk-off single to left for a 6-5 Villanova win.

Cole Patten had a solid start on the mound for Villanova. The Seton Hall transfer tossed five and 2/3 innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts.

The Wildcats got on the board first when O'Reilly plated a run with an RBI single in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead.

Cameron Hassert added to Villanova's lead in the second inning with a groundout to score Rotondo which put Villanova up two runs.

AJ Hansen legged out an RBI triple in the bottom of the third to score Pat O'Neill for a 3-0 lead. Will Reiner followed up with a sacrifice fly to center to score Hansen and extended Villanova's lead to 4-0.

The Highlanders began to charge back in the top of the sixth. David Marcano scored on a ground out and Luke Longo drew a bases-loaded walk to put NJIT within two of the Wildcats. Isiah Daubon was called in to pinch-hit and made an immediate impact with an RBI double that scored two runners and tied the game at four.

NJIT gained their first lead of the game in the seventh when Andrew Elcock pulled a ball to right for an RBI single and the 5-4 lead.

Inside the Box Score

• With a 3-for-4 performance including two runs scored and a stolen base, Chris Rotondo has now extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
• Jack O'Reilly went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in Friday. In his past two games, O'Reilly has gone 5-for-10 with four runs batted in.
• Pat O'Neill recorded a multi-hit game after going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
• After his 1-for-3 performance with an RBI, Cameron Hassert has knocked in six runs in his past three games.
• Cole Patten has allowed just three earned runs in 26 and 1/3 innings pitched.

 
The Wildcats return to action Sunday, March 13.