SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Villanova lineup dominated on Sunday morning, as the Wildcats took down Kent State 13-5 in the finale of the Texas State Tournament.
It was an all-around strong showing for Villanova (3-2) with the 'Cats exploding for 13 runs on 14 hits, including two home runs and five other extra base hits.
Tess Cites finished the day with a 4-for-4 showing at the plate, adding four RBIs and three runs to the box score. Ava Franz went 2-for-2 with two runs, a double, triple and a walk, while Alexa Raphael and Ryan Henry each added two hits of their own.
Kelsey White earned the W in the circle, picking up her first win of the year after pitching five innings with two strikeouts.
The Golden Flashes began the scoring in the first inning, as a one-out single and some small ball allowed KSU to take a 1-0 lead.
VU's bats awakened in the second frame, as the Wildcats hit three triples in the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Franz started the triple parade and then scored on a wild pitch. Madison Ostrowski followed that up with a walk before scoring on a triple from Cites. One pitch later, Chloe Smith brought Cites home on another three-bagger to secure a two-run lead for the 'Cats.
Henry expanded Villanova's advantage in the following inning, knocking an 0-1 pitch out of the park to left center field for the Wildcats' first home run of the season.
Cites continued her strong performance in the ensuing stanza, bringing Raphael home on a single then later scoring on a sacrifice fly from White.
Kent State brought the score to 6-5 in the visiting half of the fifth inning, tacking on four runs thanks to three hits and two walks.
But VU was not to be outdone, as the Villanova bats resumed their liveliness and answered with seven runs of their own to induce the eight-run rule.
A Henry single, Franz walk and Raphael single loaded the bases for leadoff hitter Cites, who singled up the middle and brought in two. Smith earned an RBI on a groundout, then White doubled to bring Cites around.
The weekend ended in spectacular fashion, as freshman Lilly St. Jean came to the plate with runners on first and second. With a 2-0 count, the shortstop from New Jersey belted the offering to left field for her first collegiate home run, ending the contest at 13-5.
Villanova's victory marks the fourth all-time VU victory over Kent State, with the 'Cats sweeping the contests this weekend.
NEXT UP: The Wildcats will play in their second tournament of 2023 next weekend, taking part in the Auburn University Tiger Invitational from Feb. 17-19. VU will take on Auburn and Dayton twice each, while also facing Austin Peay.
