April 10, 2002
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
VILLANOVA, PA. ----- On Wednesday, April 10, the Villanova softball team held the Drexel Dragons scoreless in two games of a non-conference double-header to cruise to a 4-0 victory in game one and an 8-0 win in game two. Entering the week the Villanova pitching staff ranked among the nation's elite Division I softball programs with the fourth best earned run average in the country (0.93 ERA). The Wildcats continue to improve on their ERA all week by holding their opponents scoreless in 28 straight innings. Combined with stellar pitching performances from three freshmen and an offensive explosion for 21 hits in two games, Villanova swept the Dragons and improves to 26-6 on the year. The Dragons fall to 5-23 overall.
Game #1: Drexel 0, VILLANOVA 4
Sophomore Ricci Lugo's solo-home run with two outs in the bottom of the third inning gave Villanova the lead for good in the opening game. Lugo, a native of San Clemente, Calif., has seven homers this season.
The Wildcats added to their lead in the fourth inning with two run on four hits. Sara Carlson (Langley, B.C.) led off with her second double of the game and with one out she advanced to third on a bunt single by Krissy Yauch (Tucson, Ariz.). Carlson scored on a Karen Niwinski (Newtown, Pa.) RBI single and Yauch scored on an errant throw from the Drexel catcher.
Villanova added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning pushing the lead to 4-0. Robin Flier (Lafayette, Calif.) led off with a triple over the Dragons right fielder. Carlson had her third double of the afternoon scoring Flier. Carlson finished game one, 3-for-3 at the plate with three doubles, one run scored, and a RBI.
Starting pitcher Kristen Haynes (Fairfax, Calif.) threw a complete-game shutout for, scattering seven Drexel hits over seven innings. Haynes improves to 5-0 on the year. On the mound for Drexel, freshman Krista Van Wert falls to 0-6 on the year allowing four earned runs.
Game #2: Drexel 0, VILLANOVA 8 (6 inn.)
In the third inning of game two Lugo, who is among the NCAA leaders in triples per game, cranked her fourth triple of the season with one out. Center fielder Lisa Krueger (Mission Viejo, Calif.) lined a RBI single down the left field line, plating Lugo for the first Villanova run.
The Wildcats added four runs in the fourth inning taking advantage of three Drexel errors. Freshman Sarah Wall (Hollywood, Fla.), Lugo and Krueger all had RBI singles in the rally.
Villanova ended the game in the sixth inning with three-runs, enforcing the eight-run rule as the Wildcats pushed the advantage to 8-0. Sophomore Andrea Brown (Las Flores, Calif.) singled into right field with the bases loaded for the first run of the inning. Then with one out Garboden ended the game with a two-RBI single through the right side allowing the final two Villanova runs to score.
Freshman Shannon Williams (Allentown, Pa.) and Kari Koller (Rocklin, Calif.) combined to pitch a one-hit shutout, the fourth consecutive game the Wildcat pitchers have not allowed a run.
Villanova will pack its bags and head to Easton, Pa., for a non-conference double-header against Lafayette College at Metzgar Field on Thursday, April 11. The first game will begin at 3:00 p.m.
For more information regarding the Villanova softball, please contact Media Relations Assistant, Kevin Fischer, at 610.519.6460 or via email at kevin.fischer@villanova.edu.
