VILLANOVA, Pa. – Seton Hall scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning and added a single run in the fifth inning to post a 3-0 victory over Villanova in the opener of a three-game BIG EAST series played here today.
 
After a week with chilly temperatures the sun warmed temperatures into the low 60s with bright sunshine, creating nearly perfect conditions for this matchup.
 
Villanova's Paige Rauch worked around a one-out single in the top half of the first to keep the Pirates off the scoreboard. Raugh singled in the bottom half of the frame but Pirates starting pitcher Shelby Smith worked out of the jam to keep the game scoreless.
 
Rauch and Smith each worked clean innings in the second and third to keep the game tied at zero heading into the fourth inning.
 
Smith singled to lead off the top of the fourth inning and that was followed by an infield single from the Hall's Taylor Hill. Rauch retired Abby Wingo on a groundout that advanced the runners to second and third. Jenna Blevins followed with a double to left center field that plating two runs and giving Seton Hall the lead.
 
A Ryan Henry single couple with a walk to Sydney Hayes put runners at first and second with one out. But Smith retired the next two Wildcats to escape without any damage.
 
Seton Hall added a run in the top of the fifth. After the 'Cats set down the first two Pirates batter in the inning, Ashly Colonetta reached on an infield single. Smith then struck an RBI double to left field to make it 3-0 in the Pirates favor.
 
Ryan Henry's one out double in the sixth – her second hit of the afternoon – put a Wildcats' runner into scoring position. Smith, however, retired the next two hitters.
 
Rauch reached on a two-out error in the bottom of the seventh inning but Smith got the final out to record the 3-0 win.
 
Seton Hall ups its record to 18-21 overall, 7-12 BIG EAST while the Wildcats fall to 26-20 overall, 13-5 BIG EAST.
 
The series continues Saturday with first pitch set for noon.