March 7, 2001

Box Score

Orlando, FL - Villanova sophomore pitcher Theresa Hornick (Edmonds, Wash./Seattle Prep) threw five perfect innings of softball, successfully retiring 15 consecutive Monmouth batters in recording the first perfect game in the history of Villanova Wildcat softball. Her effort combined with an offensive explosion allowed the Wildcats to roll to an 8-0 victory over Monmouth. With the victory Villanova improves to 4-0 on the season and Monmouth falls to 3-3.

"I think the main reason I was able to throw a perfect game was because I have really changed my attitude," Hornick said. "This year I am really confident and focused. Each game we go into I try and treat it like a championship game. That attitude and focus is paying off and allowing me to take advantage of every opportunity."

A 1999 graduate of Seattle Prep, Hornick was dominating on the mound. Only once during the entire game was she tested when a Monmouth player hit a line drive to center, which was easily snagged. In Villanova's history there have been eight no-hitters, but never has a pitcher thrown a perfect game. The closest effort in Wildcat history might have come last year when mentor and teammate, senior Keri Stoller (West Linn, OR/West Linn), threw a no-hitter but missed a perfect game by allowing one walk. Hornick, who now stands at 2-0 on the season, allowed one unearned run and five hits in her season opening start on March 5. Last season, Hornick finished second in the NCAA with eight saves. She recorded 1.06 earned run average in 27 appearances.

"She was in total control the whole game," Villanova head softball coach Maria DiBernardi said. "Theresa seemed so focused on every batter. It was noticeable, because she had no idea she was throwing a perfect game. She got ahead of almost every batter and every pitch was working. As a sophomore it is just unbelievable to throw a perfect game."

Villanova got things started right away for Hornick, tallying two first inning runs. Freshman Robin Flier (Lafayette, CA/Acalanes) singled to start the game off and then stole second. Jackie Pasquerella (Bayshore, NY/Bayshore), hitting in the two slot, sacrificed her to third. Heather Garboden (Beaverton, OR/Beaverton) reached on an error and Ricci Lugo (San Clemente, CA/San Clemente) walked to load the bases. On the next pitch the Monmouth pitcher fired a passed ball allowing Flier to score. The Wildcats attempted to score Garboden as well, but she was thrown out at the plate. The hot-hitting Josey Mikulyuk (Mishawaka, IN/Mishawaka) then stepped to the plate and drilled a triple to score Lugo and give Villanova a 2-0 advantage.

In the third the Wildcats were back at it as Pasquerella singled and Garboden reached on another error. A fielder's choice by Flier plated Pasquerella and then it was Mikulyuk's time again. The junior catcher hit her second home run in as many games. Again, it was a two-run home run to give Villanova a 5-0 lead.

With Hornick continuing to dominate, Villanova tallied twice more in the fourth and once in the fifth to secure the game by way of the eight-run rule. In the fourth inning, Lisa Krueger walked and then was thrown out on a fielder's choice hit by Kailyn Bergstrom (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown). Flier reached on an error and Pasquerella sacrificed, moving Bergstrom to third and Flier to second. Garboden then reached cleanly for the first time in the game after hitting a two-run single to extend Villanova's lead to 7-0. The Wildcats would round out the scoring in the fifth inning when Flier singled up the middle scoring Gina DeFrancesco (Ardmore, PA/Haverford).