Clearwater, Fl. – Villanova was able to extend their winning streak to four games on Saturday. They defeated Eastern Illinois 5-2 and UMass 4-1 in eight innings.
Eastern Illinois
Anissa Amarillas and
Sara Kennedy combined for a gem in the win over the Panthers. Amarillas started the game and went four innings allowing just two runs and improved her record to 3-4. Kennedy came in and pitched three dominant innings allowing just one hit and didn't allow a single run to earn her first save of the season.
The scoring opened in the third inning when
Angela Giampolo wreaked havoc on the base paths. She stole second which allowed
Sydney Hayes to score on the throw. Giampolo then scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch. The Wildcats were able to strike for two more in the inning when
Delaney Switzer hit an RBI double scoring
Becky Ducar and
Julia DaCosta singled to center scoring Switzer.
EIU would get two in the fourth inning off of Amarillas, but that is all they would get the rest of the game.
Switzer came up again in the fifth and once more hit an RBI double that scored Ducar. The Wildcats were able to coast the rest of the way behind the strong pitching of Kennedy and came away with their 10
th win of the season.
UMass
The second game of the day was an absolute pitching duel from the beginning to the end.
Paige Rauch got the start for Villanova and pitched eight innings allowing just one run that came from the leadoff runner on second in extra innings. She finished also finished with eight strikeouts and just one walk.
Kiara Oliver got the start for UMass and she went toe to toe with Rauch until she gave up four runs in the eighth inning.
Hayes scored the first run of the eighth on a line drive up the middle from Ducar that hit Oliver in the shin. She stayed in the game, but
Caroline Jones came through in a big way with a bases clearing double to put Villanova up 4-0.
This was more than enough for Rauch as UMass got their one run off of a fielder's choice but could not get any more and the Wildcats would come away with a gritty 4-1 win.
Ryan Henry stepped up big time behind the plate throwing out both runners that tried stealing on her to keep runners out of scoring position.
A matchup with #23 Wisconsin will finish out the week-long Florida trip. First pitch is scheduled for 9:00 A.M. and live stats will be available.
