Feb. 24, 2007

Albany Box Score
Boston U. Box Score

Orlando, Fla. - After opening the season with two wins yesterday, the Villanova softball team continued their early season success with two more wins on Saturday to improve to 4-0 on the young season. The Wildcats topped two America East Conference foes, Albany 4-0 in their first game of the day and later defeated Boston University, 3-1.

Against the Albany Great Danes, Villanova was once again led by very strong pitching and enough run support to get the 4-0 win.

Last year the Wildcats posted four shutouts all year and they have two already in their first four games.

Junior Nicci Ward (2-0) was the winning pitcher for the Wildcats, going six strong innings, allowing no runs on five hits and striking out six. Kat Walsh retired the Great Danes in the seventh to preserve the shutout.

Offensively in the game for Villanova, Eryn Teague was the star, going 1-2 with three RBI after she cleared the bases with a double in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie.

In the next inning, Villanova got an unearned run when Carolyn Brown scored after Jess O'Boyle struck out. The catcher was unable to handle the pitch and it got away, allowing Brown to score from third.

In their second game of the day, against Boston University, the outcome was still in doubt going to the final two innings with the score tied at 1-1.

However, just like in the first game, it was freshman Eryn Teague to the Wildcats rescue, drilling her first collegiate home run in the sixth to give Villanova a 3-1 lead.

The two-run lead was more than enough for sophomore pitcher Laura Determan as she cruised to her second win of the season. She pitched all seven innings, surrendering one unearned run on four hits while striking out a career high 14. Her previous high was nine which she did twice last season as a freshman.

The Wildcats first run came in the first inning on an RBI single by freshman Danielle Maricle, scoring Jessica Curtis from second base.

NOTES
* Freshman Eryn Teague leads the Wildcats with 7 RBI
* Junior Jessica Curtis has stolen four bases, twice as many as she had in her first two years combined.
* Curtis also is the only Wildcat to collect a hit in all four games so far.
* The four Villanova freshmen have combined for 15 hits, scored six runs and have 11 RBIs.
* The Villanova pitching staff has allowed just one earned run in 27 innings pitched (0.33 ERA).