Feb. 20, 2011
Box Score
FT. MYERS, Fla. - The Villanova softball team (2-3) concluded the Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Tournament on a high note with a 5-2 victory over host squad FGCU.
Junior Kristi Burlin led the Wildcats' offense going 2-for-4 with one run. Villanova combined for nine hits, while holding the Eagles to just six.
Senior Christina Botkins, juniors Jamie O'Hara, Shannon O'Brien and Tessa Braga, sophomore Valerie Ortega, redshirt freshman Taylor Olafson and freshman Brittany Ewing each added one hit apiece.
Junior Caitlyn Delahaba earned her first win of the season on the mound as she threw 5.2 innings and gave up just one run, while striking out three batters.
FGCU struck first in the bottom of the second inning with a lead-off homerun to left centerfield, but Villanova responded with an explosive top of the fourth.
Burlin got the ball rolling with a double to left field that was just shy of a homerun and freshman Ali Lowe came in to pinch run. Junior Molly Manning was walked and Ewing connected on a single to centerfield, which advanced the runners. Botkins came in for a pinch hit single and advanced to second on the throw scoring Manning and Lowe for a 2-1 lead. O'Brien added an RBI single and O'Hara connected on a single through the left side for a 4-1 advantage.
The Wildcats added one run in the top of the fifth as Burlin again led off with a double and scored on an error from the Eagles.
FGCU added one run in the bottom of the fifth, but still trailed 5-2 and the Wildcats' defense held of the Eagles to take the win.
Villanova will travel to UCF next weekend for five games at the Radisson UCF Invitational. The first game is Friday, Feb. 25 versus Maine at 9:00 a.m.
