WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Villanova softball lineup picked up right where they left off, as the Wildcats routed Georgetown 16-2 in five innings on Sunday afternoon in the series finale.
After VU's 17-hit outburst on Saturday afternoon, the lineup parlayed that success into a dominant performance on Sunday, scoring 16 runs for the first time since April of 2021.
Chloe Smith led the way for Villanova (10-13, 2-1 BIG EAST) with two hits and four RBI, while Dani Dabroski (two hits, two RBI), Lilly St. Jean (two hits, three RBI) and Ally Jones (two hits, two RBI) all provided offense as well.
Kelsey White earned the victory for Villanova after going four innings in the circle, striking out six and inducing six batted-ball outs with just five hits and two earned runs. Peyton Schnackenberg tossed the final frame for VU, setting GU down 1-2-3 with a punchout marking the end of the matchup.
Tess Cites led off the matchup with her first of three walks, then Dabroski followed suit. Smith then doubled to left center, scoring both runners and giving VU an early two-run advantage.
The freshman St. Jean came to the dish and blasted a pitch out of the park for a two-run bomb, recording the third home run of her college career and putting the Wildcats up 4-0.
But Georgetown took one back right away, as the first batter in GU's lineup, Cameron Kondo, went yard to bring Villanova's edge to three.
The Wildcats showcased their ability to work counts in the second frame, as Victoria Sebastian, Sydney Hayes and Cites each walked to load the bases with nobody out.
Dabroski delivered for VU, doubling down the left field line to bring two runs around. Then Smith notched her second hit of the game, singling to center field for another RBI, and she eventually touched the plate following a Jones RBI base knock.
The third stanza was nearly a recreation of the previous inning, as Sebastian, Hayes and Cites loaded the bases with no outs.
Dabroski came up big once again, singling for an RBI, before Smith was hit by a pitch and St. Jean walked to put two more runs across. Madison Ostrowski earned an RBI on a groundout, which was followed by a Jones basehit up the middle and an Ava Franz sacrifice fly to bring two more around and put VU up 15-1.
The Hoyas got another solo shot from Kondo in the third inning as she put one over the fence in right center to bring GU's deficit to thirteen.
After the fireworks of the first three innings, it was a quiet fourth as VU was retired in order before White struck out the side in the home half of the frame.
The 'Cats returned to form in the fifth as Smith and St. Jean both reached base to start the stanza, then Ryan Henry got in on the action with an RBI single. Freshman Kendall Spivey pinch hit for Jones and delivered her first collegiate hit with a single to center field, loading the bases.
Schnackenberg came on to relieve White in the bottom half of the fifth frame and got a popout, flyout and strikeout to retire the Hoyas and induce the eight-run rule.
With the victory, the Wildcats win the season series 2-1 and move to 21-13 in the all-time series against Georgetown.
UP NEXT: Villanova will finally return to Pennsylvania, playing in its home opener against Creighton. The Wildcats will host the Bluejays for a three-game series over the weekend, with one game set for each of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
