March 19, 2001
Box Score
Villanova, PA - On Sunday, March 18, the Villanova softball team hosted Brown University in a NCAA Division I showdown. In game one of the doubleheader Villanova's Jackie Pasquerella (Bayshore, NY/Bayshore) tied the Wildcats single game hit record with four hits, leading the 'Cats past Brown 8-6. Game two was a little different as Villanova saw three line drive double plays end three different scoring rallies. The key defensive stops by Brown earned them the 5-3 victory. With the win and the loss Villanova now stands at 10-2 overall, while Brown stands at 1-3.
In game one, Villanova got on the board right away after Pasquerella singled and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Heather Garboden (Beaverton, OR/Beaverton) grounded out to second base advancing Pasquerella to third. The senior would then score on the second passed ball of the inning, giving Villanova a 1-0 lead.
The 'Cats continued to compile early runs in the second inning. The scoring got started after Josey Mikulyuk (Mishawaka, IN/Mishawaka) singled and then Lisa Krueger (Mission Viejo, CA/Aliso Niguel) ripped a double to drive her in. Leading 2-0, the Wildcats got consecutive singles from Karen Niwinski, (Newtown, PA/Council Rock) Kriste Romano (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain) , Robin Flier (Lafayette, CA/Acalanes) , and Pasquerella. The four consecutive singles allowed Krueger and Niwinski to score and brought up Garboden. The junior first baseman smoked a single to drive in two more runs and stretch Villanova's lead to 6-0. The 'Cats got their final run when Mikulyuk hit a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Pasquerella.
Brown answered in the top of the third pounding across four runs on three hits. The big hit in the inning was a three-run double by Tami Parrot, plating Laura Leonetti, Julia Iudicello, and Lauren Wong. With their lead slimmed to 7-4, Villanova tried toanswer, but could not until the bottom of the fourth inning when Pasquerella scored her third run after Ricci Lugo (San Clemente, CA/San Clemente) reached on an error.
The Bears of Brown tried to mount one last run in the top of the sixth inning, but could only muster two runs on a triple by Iudicello. The hit allowed Megan Nicolay and Cory Schreier to score.
Theresa Hornick (Edmonds, WA/Seatle Prep) pitched five innings of four hit andfour run softball. She was replaced in the top of the fifth by freshman Kari Singley (Irvine, CA/Irvine) . Singley threw two innings allowing two runs on three hits. Hornick earned the win to improve to 5-0 on the season. Taking the loss for Bears was Melissa Brown.
In game two, Villanova again jumped out early. The Wildcats started the first inning with a single by Flier. Flier then stole second and advanced to third when Pasquerella grounded out. She would score when Garboden grounded out to second base. Leading 1-0, Villanova got another run in the second inning when Lisa Krueger singled and then Kailyn Bergstrom (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown Area)doubled to drive her in.
Brown would answer back in the fourth inning and in a dramatic way. Wong singled to bring up Parrott. The Brown star then battled with Wildcats ace Keri Stoller (West Linn, OR/West Linn) in a great duel that was won by Parrott when she stroked a two-run homerun to tie the game. Erin Durlesser doubled and Nicolay reached on an error setting up Katie Tone. Tone singled to drive in Durlesser and then stole second. She advanced to third on a fielder's choice and then stole home to give Brown a 4-2 lead. The Bears would get one final run when Parrott hit her second homerun of the day in the top of the fifth inning.
Villanova would get one run back in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all they could get across. Scoring for the Wildcats was Mikulyuk who reached on an error by the Brown shortstop. Lugo then stepped to the plate and blasted a ball to center. The Brown centerfielder chased the ball down, but dropped it allowing Mikulyuk to score Villanova's third and final run. The Wildcats had three separate scoring opportunities in three different innings that were stymied by line drive double-plays.
Stoller took the loss for Villanova after throwing four and two-thirds innings of eight hit five run softball. The senior gave way to Singley for two and one third innings. Singley pitched very well in relief, allowing only two hits and no runs. Stoller now stands at 4-2 on the season. Earning the victory for Brown was Ellie Blake.
The Wildcats will be in action next on March 22 at home against St. Joseph's - PA. Villanova defeated the Hawks earlier in the season by the score of 2-1 in ten innings.
