April 8, 2008

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova softball team got a late start in game one of a doubleheader at Lehigh on Tuesday, but came away with a 3-1 victory. Game two ended in a 9-9 tie when the game was called after seven innings due to darkness.

In game one Jess O'Boyle connected for a two-out single up the middle and then stole second to get into scoring position, but would not be able to score.

Lehigh got on the board first in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single to the right side. The runner moved over a base on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI double, as Lehigh jumped ahead, 1-0.

The Wildcats (14-14-1) weren't down long as Danielle Maricle was walked to start the sixth inning. Jessica Curtis singled down the left field line to move Maricle to second and both advanced when Meghan Morese laid down a sacrifice bunt. Eryn Teague stepped to the plate and sailed a three RBI homerun to centerfield, putting `Nova ahead, 3-1.

Lehigh threatened with a lead-off single in the bottom of the sixth, but pitcher Nicci Ward finished the inning unscathed and retired the three hitters in the seventh to secure the `Cats victory and putting them back at .500.

The Wildcats combined for five hits in the first game. Ward threw a complete game. She allowed just one run on four hits, fanning six batters.

Villanova got right to work in the second stanza with a leadoff single from Maricle. She stole second and was sent home on and RBI single to left field from Teague, giving the `Cats a quick 1-0 lead. Allie Heon got on base from a Lehigh miscue as Teague moved over, and then scored on and RBI single from O'Boyle as Villanova got two runs in the first.

Lehigh also got off to a quick start with one run on two hits in the first inning, taking the score to 2-1. The Mountain Hawks exploded in the second with a leadoff double, followed by a single, putting two runners on. A Wildcat miscue would score two runners, but Lehigh was not finished yet. They would score five runs on five hits in the inning, jumping to a 6-2 advantage.

The Mountain Hawks' offense kept rolling in the third inning with two more runs, earning an 8-2 lead over Villanova.

Heon hit a leadoff single in the fourth inning and Becky LaMarca took a base after being hit by a pitch. Natalie Hord lit a spark for the `Cats with a two RBI triple, pulling Villanova closer, 8-4.

O'Boyle got the sixth inning started with a leadoff single and LaMarca and Hord were both walked to load the bases for the Wildcats. Kristen Jelinski hit an RBI single into left field, scoring O'Boyle. Curtis launched a three RBI triple into left field to tie the game at 8-8 and the Wildcats kept going. Morese doubled to score Curtis and gave the Wildcats a 9-8 advantage, stealing the lead away. Teague singled to put two runners on base for `Nova, moving Morese to third. The inning ended with Villanova batting around in the order holding a 9-8 lead.

Villanova looked to stay in front, but back-to-back singles in the bottom of the seventh kept Lehigh alive. After lineup changes, the Mountain Hawks would score on a wild pitch, tying the ballgame at nine apiece.

After the seventh inning the game was called due to darkness, and the Wildcats walked away with a tie.

Teague and O'Boyle went 2-for-4 in the second frame, each with one run and one RBI. Hord was 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Maricle continued her hit-streak with one hit in the game.

Villanova will hit the road for its first BIG EAST road contests of the season. The Wildcats face DePaul on Saturday, April 12 at 12 p.m. They will play at Notre Dame Sunday at 12 p.m.