Villanova University

Oct. 12, 2009

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova 2 Wagner 0
Saturday Sept. 19, 2009

Sophomore Caitlyn Delahaba led the Wildcats to their first victory of the fall, by shutting out Wagner 2-0. Delahaba was strong, striking out 12, walking just one and giving up one hit. Freshman Adrienne Drummond spotted Delahaba for three batters in the seventh, to help with the win.

`Nova did its scoring in the fourth inning and took advantage of three Wagner errors and one hit by freshman Valerie Ortega. Sophomore Kristi Burlin led the way with two hits and an RBI.

Villanova 2 Towson 1
Saturday Sept. 19, 2009

Villanova used timely hitting and strong defense and pitching to hold off a late surge by Towson, winning the game 2-1.

The `Cats tallied the first run in the fourth inning after Burlin walked, pinch runner Jamie O'Hara stole second base, and scored on a Christina Botkins single.

In the sixth inning, Burlin was hit by a pitch, and moved to second base on an Eryn Teague single. Burlin finally scored on O'Hara's fielders choice.

Drummond entered in the seventh inning and Towson was able to pick up one run in the seventh on two singles and a walk, but were shut down for the final out by sophomore Molly Manning. Manning finished the game with five strikeouts.

Villanova 7 St. Peter's 3
Sat. Sept. 26, 2009

In game one, Manning got the win against St. Peter's, recording seven strikeouts without allowing any walks en route to a 7-3 victory. St. Peter's took a lead early on, but Villanova's offense was relentless.

Down 3-0, Shannon O'Brien scored the first run for Villanova in the third inning. She was 2-for-4, with two runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. In the fourth inning, Stephanie Zrebiec and Taylor Olafson also scored to tie the game at 3, each of them stealing a base in the game.

In the fifth inning, the Wildcats took the lead when Jess O'Boyle, Ortega, and Burlin all scored to make the score 6-3 in Villanova's favor. O'Boyle and Ortega each had an RBI in the game. Burlin went 2-for-3 with a double, and two RBI. O'Brien added an insurance run for the Wildcats when she scored in the top of the sixth inning. Tessa Braga was also 3-for-4, while freshman Julie Smith produced an RBI. Drummond came in to close the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. After allowing the first runner to reach base safely, Villanova turned a double play and got the final batter to fly out to end the game.

Villanova 4 Quinnipiac 0
Sat. Sept. 26, 2009

In game two, Delahaba got the win by striking out seven batters and allowing only one hit to help the Wildcats to a 4-0 victory over Quinnipiac.

The game remained tied at 0 until O'Boyle laid down a sacrifice bunt to move O'Hara (reached on a single) into scoring position from where she would score the first run for the Wildcats in fifth inning.

The Wildcats added some cushion to the score in the top of the sixth when Teague, Zrebiec and Amanda Marquez each scored a run.

O'Brien was 2-for-4 in the game with two stolen bases, while Ortega and Taylor Olafson each had an RBI. Marquez and Teague each stole a base in the contest, and Botkins was 1-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice bunt.

Villanova 6 Kutztown 3
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009

The Villanova softball team continued its undefeated streak with two wins (6-3 and 3-2) in a double header over Kutztown University.

In the first game, sophomore pitcher Delahaba led the Wildcats to the win with six strikeouts against the Golden Bears.

The Wildcats' first run came in the second inning with two outs when Burlin connected for a homerun. O'Boyle started off the sixth inning with a single and Ortega followed with a hit of her own. Botkins gained the RBI when she drove in the run on an infield grounder. Burlin brought in Zrebiec (pinch running for Ortega) with an error by Kutztown's third baseman. O'Brien had three hits of her own while Ortega and senior O'Boyle both added two.

Villanova 3 Kutztown 2
Sophomore Molly Manning took control of the pitcher's mound for all seven innings in the second game, recording three strikeouts and limiting the Golden Bears to two runs scored.

Teague tallied three hits in an impressive performance at the plate earning two singles, one double, and one run scored. Her first came in the second inning with a single and was driven in when Amanda Marquez followed with a double. O'Brien, O'Boyle, Burlin, and Olafson also each connected for one hit.

Burlin's golden glove stayed strong at third base, contributing in eight outs with no errors on the day.

Villanova 2 Drexel 0
Sunday October 4, 2009

The Drexel game was another pitching gem by Delahaba. She dominated the Dragons, striking out nine and allowing just one hit. With the game tied at zero, the `Cats would score all they needed in the bottom of the sixth inning.

With one out, O'Brien singled and stole second base and O'Boyle reached on an error. O'Hara pinch ran for O'Boyle and stole second base. Ortega pulled the ball to the right side of the field to score O'Brien. Pinch runner Olafson forced a throw to second base on a steal attempt, which allowed for O'Hara to score from third base. This was all the scoring Villanova would need.

Ortega and Teague led the offense with two hits each, with strong defense by Marquez. Delahaba finished the fall season with four wins and no loses.

Villanova 2 Delaware State 1, 8 innings
Sunday October 4, 2009

The game remained locked at zero until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Braga began the inning with a single and moved up to second base on a passed ball. O'Boyle then moved Braga to third base with a fielders choice, followed by an a fielders choice by Ortega.

Delaware State would come back to score on run in the fifth to tie the score at 1. The game moved to the international tie breaker in the eighth inning, with Delaware State beginning with a runner on second base. Manning managed to force a pop up bunt to third base to get the first out and after one wild pitch, she was able to shut Delaware State down.

Villanova placed pinch runner Danielle Maricle at second base to begin their eighth inning. O'Hara put the ball in play and was safe at first base on an error. The ball managed to get by the first baseman, and speedy Maricle scored to win the game.

Manning gave up just four hits and struck out seven to earn her fourth win of the fall.