Villanova University

Feb. 23, 2007

Alabama St. Box Score
George Mason Box Score

Orlando, Fl. - For the third consecutive season, the Villanova softball team opened the season with a win, defeating the Alabama State Hornets, 10-0, as the University of Central Florida tournament got underway on Friday morning in Orlando, Florida. They would then follow that up with another win, coming from behind in the late innings to defeat George Mason, 2-1.

The Wildcats showed some versatility on Friday in their first two games. Against Alabama State, they used a 12 hit attack to down the Hornets. In their next game against George Mason, Wildcat pitchers were able to make two late runs stand up in the 2-1 win.

In game one, Laura Determan (1-0) was the winning pitcher for the Wildcats, allowing just two hits and posting nine strikeouts in five innings of work. Megan Hord came on in relief to retire the side in the sixth. Whitney Valentine (1-2) took the loss for the Hornets, pitching all six innings and giving up 12 hits and 10 runs, but only seven were earned.

There were numerous offensive stars on this day for the Wildcats, led by junior Jessica Curtis. Curtis went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Meghan Morese also drove in three runs to help fuel the `Nova offense. Freshman Jess O'Boyle went 3-for-4 as well with an RBI and two runs scored as six different Wildcats drove in runs in the victory.

Against the Hornets, the Wildcats' offense got going in the second inning when freshman Eryn Teague drove in freshman Jess O'Boyle to give `Nova the 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, junior Jessica Curtis laced a triple to right center, clearing the bases and giving the `Cats a 4-0 lead.

Freshman Katie Verruni would add another run to the Villanova board with an RBI single that drove in O'Boyle in the third inning.

The Villanova offense was far from done in this game. Sophomore Meghan Morese also drove in three runs on a double in the sixth to give `Nova the 8-0 lead. Senior co-captian Sheri Donley followed with an RBI double and O'Boyle closed out the scoring with an RBI single to give the Wildcats the 10-0 win in six innings.

In the second game, against George Mason the Wildcats trailed for most of the game, but were able to push two runs across in the bottom of the sixth inning and held on for the 2-1 win over the Patriots.

Kat Walsh got the start on the mound for Villanova and allowed just one run on two hits over four innings before being relieved by junior Nicci Ward. Ward (1-0) would pitch the final three innings, not allowing a run on three hits and striking out four to pick up the win. Weinkofsky took the loss for the Patriots after allowing two runs on nine hits in six innings of work.

George Mason opened the scoring in the first with two doubles, plating what would be their only run of the game.

The Wildcats would threaten in a couple of the early innings but failed to come up the key hit to score any runs. Things would change in the sixth inning however.

Morese led off the inning with a double and Lauren Peterson was inserted as a pinch runner for Morese. O'Boyle would then follow with an RBI single to tie the game, 1-1. O'Boyle advanced to third on a single by Danielle Maricle and would score on a sac fly by Eryn Teague to give Villanova the lead 2-1 going to the seventh inning.

In the seventh, George Mason was able to get the tying run on, but Ward was able to able to get a strike out, groundout and flyout to end the game.

After stealing one base in the opener, Jessica Curtis swiped two bases in the second game as well. Also, Jess O'Boyle and Eryn Teague were the only two Wildcats to pick up RBIs in both games.

The Wildcats will continue their play at the UCF tournament on Saturday with a 9:00 AM game against Albany, followed by a 1:00 PM game against Boston University. Scores and a recap of these games will be available later on Saturday evening.