March 9, 2007
Box Score
Clearwater, Fla. - The Wildcats got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, plating two runs. Jessica Curtis got the rally started with a single and was followed by a Meghan Morese double to the gap in right center.
Sheri Donley picked up the first RBI with a shot between the legs of the second baseman for Mercer. Jess O'Boyle drove in the second run with a fielder's choice that allowed Morese to score, making it 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
Villanova kept the Bears off the board in the top of the second when Jessica Curtis made a perfect throw to catcher Cassie Koenig, who was blocking the plate and applied the tag for the final out of the inning.
The Bears would get on the board in the top of the third thanks to a costly error by the Wildcats. With the bases loaded and one out, Ashley Anderson hit a sharp grounder at Villanova second baseman Jess O'Boyle. O'Boyle fielded the ball and tagged the runner out attempting to advance from first to second. She then dropped the ball while trying to get it out of her glove. When she recovered, she made a wild throw to first base allowing a second run to score to knot the game at 2-2.
The score would not remain tied for long, thanks to a sac fly by Donley that allowed Koenig to score from third after she reached base via a walk to open the inning.
An inning later, Villanova would once again put a runner at third base with only one out. This time, Mercer was up to the task this time when Crystal Condra caught a fly ball off the bat of Lisa Curran and then threw a strike to home plate. With Maggie Seidel bearing down on her, Mercer catcher Laura Persons caught the ball and applied the tag just ahead of Seidel's arrival at the plate.
A single by Mercer's Eykamp drove in the tying run for the Bears in the top of the fifth, narrowly beating the throw from Villanova's Carolyn Brown in left field.
But the Wildcats had an answer once again. Meghan Morese gave Villanova the lead with an RBI single to right center just in front of the diving Mercer outfielder. Sheri Donley laced a double down the left field line to drive in two runs and then advanced to third on a throwing error.
Nicci Ward got the start for Villanova on the rubber and pitched 2.2 innings but struggled with her control, issuing five walks. Kat Walsh came on in the third and got out of a jam to keep the score tied.
Walsh's night would end after 1.2 innings of work and not allowing a hit but one run on three walks.
Laura Determan (8-2) pitched the final 2.2 innings to pick up the win, her second of the day. She did not allow the Bears to cut into the Wildcats lead by giving up just three hits and striking out six batters.
Villanova will conclude pool play with a 1 PM meeting with Tennessee-Chattanooga on Saturday. With a win in that game, the Wildcats will advance to the Gold Bracket of the tournament later in the day and on Sunday. Their opponent in the tournament will not be known until all pool play is concluded in the afternoon on Saturday.
