VILLANOVA, Pa. – It was another day filled with offense at the Villanova Softball Complex, as the Wildcats took down the Creighton Bluejays 10-4 to earn a sweep in the home opening weekend.
Ally Jones did the most damage for Villanova (13-13, 5-1 BIG EAST), putting up three hits and three runs on the day. Ryan Henry added two hits and four RBI in the contest, while Ava Franz (two hits, three RBI) and Chloe Smith (two hits, two runs) packed some punch as well.
Kat Gallant picked up the victory after pitching five innings, allowing just seven hits and three earned runs while striking out three and inducing 12 batted-ball outs. Peyton Schnackenberg tossed the final two frames, facing seven batters and only giving up a single baserunner.
Creighton began the game's scoring in the first inning, jumping all over Gallant with three singles and two doubles in the first six batters to secure an early 3-0 advantage before the freshman hurler struck out the next two hitters to strand a few runners.
But after CU's first hacks, the 'Cats would outscore them 10-1 the rest of the way. Villanova scored in every inning of the contest, putting up one in four of the frames and a high of four runs in the third stanza.
Smith got one back for the Wildcats to continue her hot streak, blasting a pitch down the left field line over the fence to bring the deficit to two.
Henry tied the game in the second frame with a no-doubter to straight-away center field, bringing Jones around after her leadoff single and leveling the contest.
The Bluejays put their final run on the board in the third, scoring a run via a leadoff hit-by-pitch then an error in center field that brought the runner around from first to give the Jays a 4-3 edge.
The 'Cats proceeded to break the game open with a four spot in the home half of the frame, as Smith and Kelsey White each lifted liners just over the CU defense to get on base. Ally Jones then beat out an infield single to load the bases, and Ava Franz sent one right back to the pitcher that was mishandled and brought an unearned run across.
Henry then put a two-one pitch the other way, looping a single down the right-field line that scored White and Jones, who got a great jump and was able to beat the throw home from the outfielder. Victoria Sebastian then put a ball in play and Franz broke for home instantly, reaching the plate before the throw and getting VU a 7-4 advantage.
Villanova added to its lead with back-to-back two-out hits in the fourth, with Jones singling through the left side before Franz lifted a double to the wall, deep enough to score Jones from first even though Franz was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple.
Sydney Hayes led off the fifth with a bunt single then stole second base. Dani Dabroski then slapped a 3-1 pitch into the left-center gap, bringing Hayes around and utilizing her speed to make it into a three-bagger.
The Wildcats scored the final run of the ballgame in the bottom of the sixth, as White drew a leadoff walk, Jones moved her up with a fly ball to the warning track and Franz brought her around with a single into right field.
In the last chance at the plate for CU, Schnackenberg got two straight batted-ball outs before surrending a two-out single, but then made an impressive play on a comebacker to end the matchup.
Villanova has now secured six straight wins over the Jays, now owning a 15-9 record in the all-time series.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats won't play a BIG EAST contest until hosting UConn on March 31, but will compete in non-conference matchups against Towson (doubleheader on Tuesday, March 21), Delaware and Boston University (both Mar. 25) in the upcoming week.
