March 30, 2006
Game 1
Game 2
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova softball (6-19, 0-4 Big East) won two against City Six rival, Drexel (6-16). The Wildcats snapped a seven-game losing streak with their 9-5 win in the first game and then beat the Dragons in five innings 7-2.
The Wildcats gave up one run after a rocky start in the first of game one, but came right back to stage an impressive five-run rally in the bottom of the second. Meghan Morese (Laguna Hills, Calif.) started it off with a double to left center. Two walks followed before freshman pitcher Laura Determan (San Diego, Calif.) hit a high fly ball to left field. A collision involving the left and center fielders caused one run to score starting the Wildcat rally. Kayla Felty (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) hit another to left center to bring in another run and load the bases for Jackie Dempsey (Lexington, Mass.). The sophomore second baseman hit a deep shot down the left field line for a sliding double and scoring three runs for the `Cats.
Villanova continued its two-out prowess in the fourth inning. With two outs, Cassie Koenig (Las Vegas, Nev.) was walked and Dempsey registered her second hit of the day. Sheri Donley (Orange, Calif.) then came up and ripped a double to center field scoring two runs. Donley is leading the team with 11 two-out RBI for the season.
In the sixth inning, Dempsey was again the spark as she got hit by a pitch and made it home on a wild pitch that also scored Donley due to a poor throw back to the plate. Drexel did score two runs with two outs in the top of the seventh, but the Dragons couldn't catch up making the final 9-5.
Determan had the win with five innings pitched, four strikeouts and only two runs allowed. Ashlee Veilleux took the loss dropping her to 3-4 for the season. Dempsey led the Wildcats at the plate going 2-3.
In the second game, Villanova started out riding a wave of strong Villanova pitching. Kat Walsh (Los Angeles, Calif.) struck out all three batters in the top of the second before the `Cats went on another two-out tear in the bottom of the inning. Maggie Seidel(Lake Forest, Ill.) got on with a fielder's choice to put runners on first and second but two outs. A fielding error by the second baseman loaded the bases for Carolyn Brown (Oklahoma
City, Okla.) to drive in a run. Donley then hit up the middle to bring in two more and Dempsey continued her impressive hitting to score another run making it 4-0.
Drexel scored one run in the third off of a triple to right field and brought in another in the fifth, but Villanova was able to end their momentum.
The Wildcats added some insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth Morese and Natalie Hord (Kissimmee, Fla.) both got on with hits and a rip by Seidel brought both in. Lauren Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) advanced to home on a wild pitch making the final 7-2. The game was called after the fifth due to darkness.
Walsh improved to 4-8 on the season with seven strikeouts and just one hit allowed. Natalie Hord was brilliant at the plate going 3-3 as well as Seidel and Brown who both went 2-3.
Villanova gears up for more Big East play with a doubleheader against Syracuse this Saturday at Villanova Field beginning at 12:00 p.m.
