April 18, 2004
Final Stats
VILLANOVA, PA. - Eight outs away from being swept by Connecticut, senior Kristen Strait blasted a two-run home run off the scoreboard to lift the Wildcats to a 2-1 game two victory. Cassie Koenig got the rally started, lining a double into the right-center field gap to cap a hard-fought at bat.
Koenig was replaced at second base by pinch-runner Kristin Leese after her one out double, and Connecticut also made a switch, taking out starting pitcher Michelle Caouette in favor of Jessica Gurney. Strait greeted her with her third home run of the season, sending the Villanova dugout into celebration. The 'Cats had not scored in the last 18 and a third innings since Sarah Wall's 10th inning single beat Boston College on Saturday.
Strait's home run also gave the Wildcats a much-needed win against Connecticut. Despite enjoying much success in the Big East Conference under head coach Maria DiBernardi, Villanova is now just 3-29 all-time against the Huskies.
Kristen Haynes would not surrender the lead on the mound, facing just one more than the minimum over the final two frames. Haynes improved to 7-7, allowing one run on five hits, walking two and striking out four.
UConn had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth on Holly Calcagno's RBI double. The Wildcats then ran into some controversy in the bottom of the inning. Allie Wisniewski hit what appeared to be a game-tying sacrifice fly, but Krissy Yauch was called out for leaving third base early, ending the inning, and setting the stage for Strait's fifth inning heroics.
Wall went 2-for-3 in game two to lead the Villanova offense.
In game one, it was Kari Koller who collected a pair of hits, but the Wildcats would manage just six as a team and were unable to score against Gurney, who struck out 10. Shannon Williams nearly matched her, but she allowed a two-out RBI single to Mandy Schettini in the sixth. Williams fell to 14-9 on the season.
Villanova senior leftfielder Robin Flier went 0-for-3 in game one, which put an end to her 12-game hitting streak.
UConn remains at .500 on the year at 18-18. The Huskies are 3-7 in the Big East. Villanova is now 9-3 in the league, and 21-16 overall.
The Wildcats' home stand continues on Tuesday, Apr. 20, when La Salle visits for doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.
