Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

Providence, R.I. - The Villanova Wildcats (32-16, 14-5 BIG EAST) continued conference play Saturday as they took the first two games of the three game series against the Providence Friars (20-28, 5-14 BIG EAST)

Villanova took game one by a 4-1 margin. Game two also went to the Wildcats way as they needed extra innings to beat the Friars 11-8 (F9).

Game 1

Villanova wasted no time to score as the Wildcats scored three runs in the top of the first inning off Providence starter Kiara Amos.

Lauren Herschberg started off the game as she reached base safely on an error by the Friars second baseman. Herschberg would then advance to second on a pass ball. With one out, Lauren Hanna singled down the right field line advancing Herschberg to third base. Hanna would take second herself on an error by the Providence right fielder.

The 'Cats would get back-to-back RBI singles from Nikki Alden and Chase Snell to take a 3-0 lead. Dana Morris would then reach base on a fielder's choice scoring Alden to give VU the early 3-0 advantage.

VU would add an insurance run for Poppe in the top of the fifth inning as Aleshia Ayers hit her first homerun of the season to left field to give Villanova a 4-0 lead.

Those four runs were all starter Kate Poppe (20-11) needed as she cruised to her 20th win of the season. Poppe limited the Friars to just three hits over 6.2 innings of work while striking out eight batters.

Providence did score a run off Brette Lawrence in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Game 2

Just like game one, VU would jump out to an early lead in game two.

With two outs, Alden beat out an infield single to shortstop bringing Morris to the plate. The Scottdale, Ariz. Would rip an RBI double to left center scoring Alden to give VU a 1-0 lead.

The Friars got two runs back in the bottom half of the first inning as Brittney Veler drew a one out bases loaded walk of Villanova starter Jordan Prutzer scoring Kiki Baldassari to knot the game up at 1-1.

Vanessa Portillo would give the Friars a 2-1 lead as she reached base on an error by Herschberg scoring Emma Lee.

The ever resilient 'Cats would battle back the very next inning as Villanova would load the bases for Herschberg. The Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. native would walk drawing home Sierra McConnell to tie the game at 2-2.

Villanova would take a 4-2 lead in the top of the third inning courtesy of some spotty defensive play from the Friars.

With one out, Morris and Snell had back-to-back singles. Following an Ayers groundout, McConnell reached base on an error by the Providence first baseman scoring both Morris and Snell to give Villanova the lead.

That lead would be short lived as Veler and Portillo hit back-to-back solo homeruns off Prutzer in the home half of the third inning to tie the game once again at 4-4.

Providence would then take advantage of a Villanova error in the bottom of the fourth inning to regain the lead at 5-4. Baldassari would hit an infield single to start off the inning. Lee would reach base following an error by Herschberg at third base which scored Baldassari all the way from first base.

Poppe would enter the game in relief of Prutzer with no outs in the home half of the fourth inning.

With one out in the home half of the fifth inning, Portillo knocked a double to right center off Poppe. The very next batter, Danielle Deraney, doubled to left center scoring Portillo to give Providence a 6-4 lead.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Poppe would get Lee to fly out to left field. Lee leads the conference in hitting this season.

With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Providence made a pitching change putting Christina Ramirez in for Taylor Huntly. The 'Cats took advantage of the change as Brittany Husk launched a two-run homerun over the left field fence to tie the game at 6-6.

After Providence failed to score in the bottom of the sixth inning, Villanova started off the seventh inning with a single from Morris. Tianah Hathaway came in to pinch run for Morris and she would advance to second on a wild pitch with Snell at the plate.

Snell grounded out to third base for the first out of the inning which allowed Hathaway to advance to third base. Ayers gave VU the 7-6 lead as she doubled to right center scoring Hathaway. Jessica Angersbach, who started at catcher for Lauren Hanna, ripped a double of her own scoring Ayers to increase the VU lead to 8-6.

The Friars kept battling and would not give up in the bottom half of the seventh as Deraney led off the inning with a solo homer of Poppe to tighten the VU lead to 8-7. With one out, Baldassari laid down a bunt single bringing Lee to the plate. Lee doubled to left center advancing Baldassari to third. Kelsi Luttrell hit a groundball to Husk for the second out of inning which scored Baldassari to knot the game at 8-8.

In the eighth, Villanova loaded the bases with one out but failed to score a run. Providence got the winning run to third base with two outs, but they also failed to score as both teams headed to the ninth.

In the ninth, VU loaded the bases once again bringing Herschberg to the plate this time with zero outs. For the second time of the game, Herschberg walked scoring McConnell to give Villanova a 9-8 lead.

Huntly would renter the game for the Friars in the circle, and Husk would reach first on an error by the first baseman scoring two runs to extend the Villanova lead to 11-8.

Poppe (21-11) went six innings giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out four Friars. Her 21 wins this season is new career-high and she now needs only two more wins to tie the all-time mark for wins in a season set by Shannon Williams in 2005. Poppe's 65 career wins tied her with Tina Sabunas for third all-time in program history. Keri Stoller holds the most victories at 69.

Husk was 2-for-6 with two RBI's including the big two out, two-run homerun in the sixth inning. Morris was 4-for-6 with a double and RBI. Villanova and Providence each had 15 hits in the game.

Villanova will close out the regular season tomorrow with one more game versus the Friars at 12:00 p.m. on the BIG EAST Digital Network via Fox Sports Go before heading off to Rosemont, Ill. next Friday for the 2016 BIG EAST Championship. Villanova's seed is still to be determined.

Be sure to follow the team socially on Twitter @VUSoftball, Instagram @novasoftball and Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news scores and highlights from the Wildcats throughout the season.