Villanova University

March 9, 2006

NIU Box Score
UMass Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Villanova softball tried to back on track Thursday afternoon with a 1-0 win over Northern Illinois but an 11-8 loss to the University of Massachusetts at the Adidas Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. Sophomore second baseman Jackie Dempsey hit in Villanova's only run of the afternoon against NIU in the third inning to beat the Huskies. Cassie Koenig (Las Vegas, Nev.) registered two hits against UMass but it was not enough to get the win over the Minutewomen.

In the first game, `Nova started out slow going three and out in the first two innings, but Lauren Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) came up in the third and got the first hit of the game blasting one to left field. Koenig followed suit hitting to the exact same spot to advance Peterson. The Wildcats got a break on Dempsey's at bat with a wild pitch moving both runners. The Lexington, Mass. native was able to compose herself and hit one back up the middle to score Peterson making it 1-0.

Villanova's defense then took over allowing no more than four at bats for Northern Illinois for the remainder of the game. Kat Walsh (Los Angeles, Calif.) pitched a no hitter for the Wildcats and struck out nine batters for her second win of the season.

At the plate, Koenig and Greta Holmgren (Somerdale, N.J.) both went 2-3, while Peterson, Dempsey and Carolyn Brown (Oklahoma City, Okla.) all went 1-2.

Against UMass, the Minutewomen got off to a good start scoring three runs in the first inning and one in the third before Villanova got on the board. Finally in the fourth inning, the Wildcats came back and rallied for three runs in the top of the inning. Sheri Donley (Orange, Calif.) , Holmgren and pinch hitter Tessa Paolini (Lancaster, N.Y.) all had RBI to drive in the runs.

Villanova kept its hot streak scoring two more in the fifth, but UMass answered the rally with seven runs in the bottom of the inning. Although Villanova scored three more runs in the sixth, it was not enough to overcome the rally and the squad dropped the game 11-8.

Koenig went 2-3 for the second game of the day and sophomore Kayla Felty (Schuykill Haven, Pa.) also hit .666 for Villanova. Walsh had the loss which split her for the day.

The Wildcats have two games tomorrow the first against Jacksonville at 11:00 a.m. and the second taking on Purdue at 1:00 p.m.