April 27, 2006

Game 1
Game 2

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Wildcat softball (13-34, 2-16 Big East) dropped two games to Ivy League-foe, Princeton (28-15, 12-2 Ivy League), Thursday afternoon at the Villanova Softball Field. The two games were polar opposites as the first was a test in defense and the second in offensive power.

The first game was one of the quickest of the season for the Wildcats pitting the pitchers against each other. Princeton batted no more than four people each in the first five innings. Twice, `Nova got the third out with Tiger runners in scoring position. Villanova was in a similar boat with the Tiger pitcher, Erin Snyder, not giving up any hits until the fifth inning.

Princeton was able get their lone run in the fifth, when Kathryn Welch hit a solo homer just over the centerfield wall. This would be the only lapse for the `Cats but it was costly. Villanova's Cassie Koenig (Las Vegas, Nev.) got on off of an error but would only advance as far as second base. This was the closest the Wildcats would come making the final 1-0.

Laura Determan (San Diego, Calif.) had the loss with three strikeouts and no walks. Erin Snyder took the win for the Tigers. Villanova registered only two hits, one by Meghan Morese (Laguna Hills, Calif.) and the other from Greta Holmgren (Somerdale, N.J.).

The second game was more about offense when Princeton jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first two innings. Villanova got two quick outs in the top of the first but the third batter got on which started the scoring. She as well as the fourth spot were both driven in on a single to right center by Snyder. A walk and a double put two on in the top of the second and Cristina Cobb-Adams brought them in with a three-run homer to left.

Villanova was able to stop the Tiger run, but the damage had been done. The Wildcats came close to scoring in the third inning moving Sheri Donley (Orange, Calif.) to third base, but the final out on a tag by the first baseman ended that inning.

Princeton scored two in the fourth before a scary collision in the outfield sent Holmgren out of the game and Jackie Dempsey (Lexington, Mass.) to the ground. Dempsey would get up and just one pitch later help end the inning on a textbook double play. The Tigers added two more in the fifth to go up 9-0 and give Villanova one more opportunity before the game would be called. After the lead off batter struck out, Koenig came up and hit a solo shot to left field making it 9-1 which was the final.

Kat Walsh (Los Angeles, Calif.) took the loss after pitching the first one and a third innings before Megan Hord (Kissimmee, Fla.) came in. Koenig had the best game at the plate for the Wildcats going 2-3 with one run scored and one RBI.

Villanova has the weekend off before take a short ride to Ambler, Pa. to play Temple on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.