February 27, 2000

Boca Raton, Fla. - After topping Florida State 3-2 in extra innings earlier in the day, the Villanova University softball team faced another tough foe in Florida Atlantic University and this time came up just short, losing 1-0 in a pitching duel. The loss against the team receiving the 30th most votes to be ranked in the nation dropped the Wildcats 2000 record to 3-3 overall.

Both teams' pitchers stole the show all afternoon in this one, with Villanova's junior flame-thrower Keri Stoller allowing only three hits, a walk, and one earned run over six innings, while striking out nine Florida Atlantic batters. Stoller, amazingly, was the losing pitcher. Florida Atlantic's Nikki Myers shutout the `Cats and gave up only a single hit - a double by Villanova's Josey Mikulyuk - while striking out 14 Wildcat hitters.

The game's only run came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Florida Atlantic led-off with a base on balls. The next two batters singled to load the bases and after a fly-out, Florida Atlantic's Jackie Catanese stepped to the plate and drove a fly ball to deep centerfield. Villanova's fleet-footed Mia Brickhouse made an unbelievable catch at the fence, but the sacrifice fly put the host squad ahead 1-0. Stoller then struckout the next batter to end the threat. Neither team could score the rest of the way and the game ended 1-0 in favor of Florida Atlantic.

Villanova gets back into action tomorrow as they face Eastern Michigan and St. Bonaventure.