VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova softball ended the series against Connecticut with a loss, suffering a 1-0 defeat on Sunday afternoon at the Villanova Softball Complex.
Dani Dabroski had a pair of hits for Villanova (18-16, 5-4 BIG EAST), while Tess Cites, Ryan Henry and Kelsey White each added a single.
White earned the loss despite allowing just five hits, one run and a walk in her five innings of work, while Caroline Pellicano struck out two during her two frames in the circle.
UConn struck first in the opening stanza, with a dribbler in front of the plate resulting in a leadoff baserunner. A pair of groundouts advanced the runner to third, then a ground ball squeaked past third base for a single and brought the run home.
The Huskies got runners to second and third with two outs, but White got a groundout to end the inning and keep the score at 1-0.
Villanova threatened in its opening hacks, with Cites and Ally Jones both drawing walks and Dabroski hitting an infield single to load the bases with nobody out. But UConn swapped pitchers and the reliever retired three straight Wildcats to keep the VU deficit at one.
It was another ducks on the pond situation in the second inning for Villanova, as Ava Franz and Cites were both hit by a pitch and Dabroski earned a two-out walk. Jones came to the plate and lifted the ball into left field, but it was tracked down to keep the 'Cats scoreless.
The only hit for either side in the next two frames was a leadoff single by Henry in the fourth, but the Wildcats could not capitalize.
Connecticut loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Franz turned a double play herself by fielding a grounder, tagging the runner in the base path and firing to first to beat the batter and end the inning.
There was little action in the ensuing frames before the 'Cats got the first two runners aboard in the final stanza. Cites singled up the middle and Dabroski bunted her way on before a wild pitch advanced both into scoring position.
The ensuing pitch was fired over the catcher's head and Cites broke for the plate, but UConn's Lauren Benson grabbed the ball and tagged Cites for the first out. Jones worked her way to first on a walk, but a subsequent strikeout made it two down.
Chloe Smith made it bases loaded with a nine-pitch walk and White came up to bat, but her drive into center field was caught by the outfielder to finish the game.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats will take part in a midweek game, hosting the Penn Quakers on Tuesday before traveling to Indianapolis to take on Butler in a three-game series from Thursday through Saturday.
