Final Stats

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Playing in their first BIG EAST semifinals matchup since making the tournament in 2010, the Villanova Wildcats played the St. John's Red Storm in Rosemont, Ill. on Friday and Saturday for the right to play the Seton Hall Pirates in the BIG EAST Championship game. The first inning was played on Friday afternoon, while the rest of the game was played on Saturday morning due to thunderstorms in the area.

With the loss the Wildcats final record for the 2015 season stands at 24-30, 9-13 BIG EAST and the Red Storm's record is now 27-17, 17-2 BIG EAST. With the win today St. John's will advance to the BIG EAST Championship game to be played later today at 4:05 p.m. CT.

The Wildcats, just like last week when they played St. John's in the regular season, were able to get on the board in the top of the first inning. Brittany Husk and Chase Snell hit back-to-back one-out singles to put a runner at first and second base for Dana Morris. Morris would then deliver a clutch single into right field scoring Husk for the first run of the game. Sierra McConnell then worked a walk to load the bases, which brought up Natalia Segovia to be hit by a pitch and earn an RBI the hard way giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

Tori Free got the start for the Red Storm, after faring well against the Wildcats last weekend. Kate Poppe would toe the rubber for the `Cats in the semifinal matchup. Throughout both days of the contest, both pitchers went the full game and it remained a tight contest right down to the end.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Red Storm also got on the board. After two quick outs, Krystal Puga doubled into center field to set up Erin Burner for a two-out single where Puga was able to cross the plate on a fielding error, which also allowed Burner to reach third base. Then at that point in the game, with a runner at third with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, the lightning started and the game was postponed.

When the game picked up again on Saturday morning, both pitchers would remain in the game and both lineups would remain the same. Brittany Garcia of St. John's led off in the same situation that the game ended at yesterday and she lined out to right fielder Sierra McConnell to end the St. John's threat.

The same score from yesterday would last another two innings, as the next run wasn't scored until the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Yvonee Rericha drove in the first run on Saturday for the Red Storm, scoring Brittany Garcia from third base. The next batter, Savannah Warren also was able to come up with a two-out single, this one driving in two runs. Kate Poppe recorded a strikeout to prevent any further damage in the inning, but the score was 4-2 St. John's going into the fourth.

The Wildcats would answer with a run of their own in the top of the fourth inning as they loaded up the bases on a Tianah Hathaway single, a Brittany Husk single and a Chase Snell walk. This brought up Dana Morris with the bases loaded and only one out and she delivered a sacrifice fly out to right field which ended up being a close play at the plate but Lauren Herschberg slide into home plate safely under the tag. This cut the St. John's lead in half and after the inning the score stood at 4-3 in favor of St. John's.

The Red Storm matched the Wildcats fourth inning run with their own run in the bottom of the inning. Lauren Zick's speed was a factor in the inning as she stole second base after reached first on a leadoff single. This then set up Hannah Anderson to drive her in for her first RBI of the day. This made the score 5-3 Red Storm.

After trading zeroes in both halves of the fifth inning, the Wildcats were once again able to cut into the St. John's lead. Tianah Hathaway, who always creates problems for opposing pitchers on the basepaths, was able to come away big again in this inning. With Hathaway at third and Herschberg at second, Chase Snell hit a ball directly at St. John's pitcher Tori Free who took a look at Hathaway at third and then threw over to first base. As soon as Free released the ball Hathaway used her speed to scamper to home plate and easily slid in safely before the throw even reached the catcher. The Wildcats cut the lead to one and the score was now 5-4, St. John's.

Villanova was able to get a runner on base in the top of the seventh inning on a Natalia Segovia two-out walk, but was never able to turn it into a rally and the game ended there at 5-4 St. John's.