Villanova University

April 26, 2008

Box Score

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Despite getting six hits in game one, the Villanova softball team could not score enough, falling 2-1 in nine innings at Seton Hall on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats also dropped game two, 7-6, although they connected on 11 hits in the game.

Kirsten Jelinski came up with the Wildcats (17-27-1, 5-13) first hit in the first frame with a single to first base, but she was caught stealing to end the inning. Senior Jackie Dempsey recorded a hit in the fourth inning, but was stranded on base.

Freshman Allie Heon scored the Wildcats' lone run with a homerun to left field to lead off the sixth inning and give Villanova a 1-0 lead. Senior Carolyn Brown connected for a single and moved to second on an error, but she remained on base when the inning concluded.

A homerun to right field from Seton Hall tied the ballgame in the seventh inning in the lead-off slot. Villanova got a hit in the top of the ninth from junior Meghan Morese, but could not advance her home to score. The Pirates broke the tie to win the game in the bottom of the ninth with a double to left center that scored on a miscue from the Wildcats as they fell, 2-1.

In the second stanza, Villanova got three base runners in the first three at-bats, but three were left on base as the inning ended.

Seton Hall took an early lead scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Villanova matched that in the fourth inning as senior Lisa Curran, freshman Christina Botkins and senior Jackie Dempsey all reached home plate to tie the game at 3-3.

The Pirates countered in the bottom of the fourth for two more runs to take a 5-3 lead, but Villanova did not stay down for long as Curran launched a three RBI homerun to center field in the top of the fifth, also scoring Stephanie Zrebiec and Eryn Teague, and giving the `Cats a 6-5 advantage.

The Wildcats could not hold on to the lead as Seton Hall scored one run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at six apiece, and then took a 7-6 lead with an additional run in the sixth inning.

Curran was walked and Dempsey singled in the top of the seventh, but neither were able to score as the inning ended, and the Pirates earned the 7-6 victory.

Junior Meghan Morese was 3-for-5 and Curran went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three RBI.

The Wildcats will return to the field on Sunday April 27 as they take on St. John's for a conference doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.