May 14, 2004
Final Stats
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Robin Flier (Lafayette, Calif./Acalanes) hit the first home run of her career in the fourth inning, and then had an RBI single in the fifth to put the Wildcats up for good, as No. 3 Villanova stayed alive in the 2004 BIG EAST Championship with a 3-1 victory over No. 4 Boston College. Junior right-hander Shannon Williams was the winning pitcher.
The game was originally scheduled for 5:00 p.m., but did not get underway until 8:05 because of a rain delay during the Notre Dame-Seton Hall contest.
The delay did not seem to affect the starting pitchers - Shannon Williams for Villanova and Tekae Malandris for Boston College. They cruised through the first three innings, neither allowing a single base runner. But the hitters found some success the second time through the order.
The Eagles got their leadoff hitter on to start the fourth when Kimmy Hopkin singled over second base. But she was quickly erased when Jacqui Goodchild popped up a sacrifice bunt attempt. Sarah Wall caught it for the out, and threw to first to get Hopkin for the twin killing.
In the bottom half, 'Nova leftfielder Robin Flier got things started in a way not many were expecting. The senior standout, third on the VU career hits list going into the game with 229, blasted the first home run of her career, a lined shot that snuck over the wall in the right-center field gap.
The 1-0 lead did not last long. BC pinch hitter Colleen Reiche's infield single with two outs in the top of the fifth brought home Britney Thompson, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Thompson moved to third when Wall threw away a sacrifice bunt attempt.
The cat-and-mouse game continued, as back-to-back singles by Wall and Allie Wisniewski opened the Villanova fifth. Boston College third baseman Kristin Allain was unable to field Cassie Koenig's sacrifice bunt attempt, loading the bases with no one out and spelling the end for Malandris.
Designated player Britney Thompson entered the pitcher's circle, and it looked like she would get out of the jam, striking out Sheri Donley and pinch hitter Kristen Strait, both swinging. But Flier struck again, this time in traditional fashion, slapping a ground ball to second base and beating it out for an infield single and the go-ahead RBI.
This time Williams held the lead, earning her 21st victory of the season. She went seven innings, surrendering two hits and no walks, fanning two. The run against her was unearned.
The 'Cats added an insurance run in the sixth, as Ricci Lugo's double and Wisniewski's RBI single were sandwiched around a walk to Wall.
The Eagles' season comes to an end, after a 33-25 year. Villanova, now 32-25, takes the field again tonight, for an elimination game against top seed Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish lost an extra inning affair to Seton Hall earlier today. The Pirates await the winner in tomorrow's championship.
The Wildcats and Seton Hall are in search of their first conference tournament crowns, while Notre Dame has won four overall, including the last two.
