VILLANOVA, Pa.—The weekend showdown between the top two teams in the BIG EAST will go down as a split after the series finale on Sunday was washed out due to rain with the game scoreless in the bottom of the second inning. Villanova (18-10, 4-1 BIG EAST) and DePaul (16-8, 7-1 BIG EAST) each took a game in Saturday's doubleheader to open the series.
 
Sunday's game began nearly 30 minutes after the scheduled start time of 12 p.m. as the teams warmed up and field preparations were completed following rain overnight and a shower that moved through just before the game got underway. It was dry for first pitch at 12:28 p.m. but the rain started again during the bottom of the second inning and became heavy enough to halt the proceedings at 12:58 p.m. with the Wildcats up at the plate. The game was called after a delay of just over 30 minutes.
 
Villanova had loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second inning and had senior pitcher Paige Rauch (Windsor, N.Y.) at the plate. The umpires conferred about the playing conditions before Rauch stepped into the box, then halted play after she took a ball and it became clear that the steady rain and wet ball had created unplayable conditions. The Wildcats had drawn four walks the first time through the order before Rauch stepped in for her second plate appearance of the game.
 
The canceled affair wasn't without its share of excitement despite the quick conclusion. With Rauch at first and nobody out in the bottom of the first inning, senior second baseman Angela Giampolo (East Windsor, N.J.) hit a ball deep to left field that DePaul left fielder Kate Polucha reached over the fence and caught just inches away from the foul pole to take away what would have been a two-run home run. Rauch advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout by sophomore third baseman Chloe Smith (Sacramento, Calif.) before being stranded there to end the inning.
 
Rauch had retired the first six batters she faced on the mound with four strikeouts, including striking out the side in the top of the second inning, before the stats from the abbreviated no-contest were wiped away.
 
Villanova returns to action this coming Wednesday at 2 p.m. when it hosts a non-conference doubleheader against Drexel.