May 6, 2006

Game 1
Game 2

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Playing their first ranked team of the season, Villanova softball (13-38, 2-18 Big East) fell to the #25 University of South Florida Bulls (46-21, 16-2 Big East) in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats lost both games to the conference-newcomer in their first trip to the Main Line. Junior captain Cassie Koenig (Las Vegas, Nev.) continued to lead by example hitting 4-7 on the afternoon and scoring the only Villanova run of the day.

The first game was one of the fastest of the season with the teams combining for seven three and out innings.

USF managed to bring in a run in the fourth when Samantha Ray bunted through the left side due to some miscommunication which drove in the runner at second. Britta Giddens had gotten on with a double to left center.

In the top of the sixth, the Bulls added another score when Christie Chapman hit a solo home run over the left center wall.

The Wildcats had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the inning after Lisa Curran (Las Vegas, Nev.) got on with a grounder up the middle. Koenig hit a tough double to left center to put runners at second and third. Unfortunately, the power of the order was unable to come up with another hit and three straight outs ended the inning with two runners in scoring position.

The Bulls held on to get the 2-0 victory in seven innings. USF had four hits to Villanova's three and Villanova had the lone error of the game. Bree Spence took the win and Laura Determan (San Diego, Calif.) was charged with the loss.

The second game started differently from the first as USF jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Bulls' Krista Holle hit a solo homer to get the run. Four hits in the third inning drove Giddens and Ray in to make it 3-0 after three.

Villanova went three and out in the first three innings and then USF struck. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Tiffany Stewart who hit a rocket over dead center to make it 7-0 after the grand slam.

The Wildcats picked up some momentum in the bottom of the fourth with their first two hits of the game by Koenig and Sheri Donley (Orange, Calif.). However, with runners at the corners, Villanova couldn't come up with a play and they retired the side.

Koenig got on with a hit in the bottom of the sixth and the Wildcats looked to be making a rally as Jackie Dempsey (Lexington, Mass.) beat out the throw on a bunt to advance the runner. Natalie Hord (Kissimmee, Fla.) came to the plate with two outs and was able to hit the ball to center as Koenig looked for home. This made the score 7-1 which would be the final as the Wildcats' steam diminished.

Koenig went 2-4 and Hord hit 1-2 to lead the `Cats at the plate. Determan took the loss despite only pitching two and a third innings. Megan Hord entered in relief and held off the Bulls with four strikeouts, one walk and no earned runs.

Villanova will play its final home game of the 2006 campaign tomorrow against #19 Louisville. The doubleheader will begin at 12:00 p.m. at the Villanova Softball Field.