VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova was defeated in both doubleheader games by No. 10 UConn the BIG EAST matchup on Saturday April 29 at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. The Wildcats fell to the Huskies in a competitive 7-3 game one and a tough 9-1 game two on the day. UConn claimed the doubleheader and the clinched the series.

Graduate shortstop Craig Larsen demolished a solo homer in each game of the doubleheader. In game one he smashed a dinger in the bottom of the seventh for the Wildcats third run of the game and in game two he buried the ball deep over the left field fence in the bottom of the ninth for the 'Cats only run of the game.
 
Senior catcher John Whooley smashed two RBI home run over the left wall in the bottom of the first for the take the 'Cats only lead of the either game. J. Whooley went 2-for-3 in game one and caught one stealing off a nice one hopper to second that landed directly into his brother Michael's glove in the top of the sixth.
 
In game one senior pitcher Luke Dziados had an impressive outing against the dominant UConn offense coming in as relief in the top of the fourth. He tossed for 3.1 innings, had three punchouts and only allowed two hits and no earned runs during his time on the rubber. In game two senior pitcher Devin Rivera started on the mound for a long 6.0 innings with three strikeouts.
 
Villanova opened with a strong start against the nationally ranked Huskies with J. Whooley blasting a two-run bomb over the left field wall to take the lead in the bottom of the first. UConn answered back with two runs of their town of a two RBI single hit by Korey Morton to tie things up 2-2.
 
The Huskies took the lead in the top of the third when Jake Studley plated an unearned run off a throwing error by the catcher. UConn added to their score with Bryan Padilla hitting a sacrifice fly for another unearned run for the 4-2 result.
 
UConn scored one run in the top of the fourth and another in the top of the sixth for the 6-2 lead both off of RBI singles. Villanova countered with Larsen crushing a homer in the bottom of the seventh, but no other Wildcat runs crossed home for the rest of the competition. UConn plated a final run in the top of the eighth off a sacrifice fly and the took game one 7-3.
 
The Wildcats struggled against UConn's starting pitcher Stephen Quigley in game two of the doubleheader. Quigley held command of the mound for a long 7.2 innings and had 10 strikeouts on the outing while throwing 92 pitches to 26 batters faced. He only allowed four hits and no runs scored.
 
The Huskies had a strong second game scoring two runs off back-to-back RBI doubles in the top of the first for the 2-0 lead. A solo homer and a sacrifice fly RBI in the top of the third for the 4-run deficit. Another sacrifice fly RBI in the top of the fourth for the 5-0 result. An RBI single to right center in the top of the seventh for the 6-0 advantage and a final three RBI homer in the top of the eighth for the 9-0 lead.
The Wildcats had a single run scored with Larsen cranking another solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to conclude the game in a 9-1 loss to the Huskies.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Cats return to action for the series finale versus UConn on Sunday April 30. First pitch is yet to be determined. Streaming will be available on FloSports.