MERION STATION, Pa. – Villanova softball picked up its 10th straight victory on Wednesday afternoon, capturing a midweek contest over the Saint Joseph's Hawks 3-1.
Ryan Henry reached base three times for Villanova (18-13, 5-1 BIG EAST), totaling two singles, an RBI and a walk. Five other Wildcats recorded a hit, and three different VU players crossed the plate in the contest.
Peyton Schnackenberg earned the victory for Villanova after going the first six-plus innings in the circle, striking out four. Junior Caroline Pellicano picked up the save after recording the final three outs and staving off the SJU comeback.
The Wildcats began the game with an early advantage, as six straight batters reached base and two crossed the plate in the opening frame.
With two outs, Henry whacked a ball that the shortstop could not handle for an RBI single. The next batter Ava Franz blooped a pitch down the right field line that nobody could get to, scoring another run to put VU up 2-0 before the Hawks even took any swings.
St. Joe's got its first chance for runs in the third stanza as a leadoff single marked the first SJU baserunner of the day. After two outs, another batter reached on a throwing error then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Schnackenberg battled through a hitter's count to draw a groundout to third base and end the Hawks' opportunity.
Dani Dabroski and Tess Cites tried to start a two-out rally for the 'Cats in the fourth inning, but a well-hit ball by Chloe Smith was tracked down on the right-field line to keep the score 2-0.
SJU looked to take some runs back in the fifth, as back-to-back two-out base hits put runners on second and third. A single into left field brought the first run around but Sydney Hayes kept the Wildcats' lead at 2-1, gunning down the second runner at the plate with the help of an impressive tag from Ally Jones.
Victoria Sebastian led off the sixth frame with a ball that found its way between the second baseman and right fielder, then stole second base to get into scoring position before Dabroski joined her on base with a walk.
Smith returned a pitch back up the middle, getting it into the outfield to score Sebastian and grant the 'Cats a 3-1 advantage.
St. Joe's got a double to begin the home half of that stanza, then a groundout moved her up a bag. The next batter grounded a pitch to Lilly St. Jean at short, and she fired the ball home where Jones once again swiped the runner to preserve VU's lead.
After the Wildcats were retired in order in the seventh, the Hawks got a leadoff single and an ensuing hit by pitch to get two runners on, at which point the 'Cats brought Pellicano on in relief.
A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, which was followed by a third play at the plate where St. Jean and Jones made a second successful connection to retire the first out.
Pellicano then got a popout into foul territory for the second out, but proceeded to walk the next batter and load the bases. The Hawks' cleanup hitter came to the dish and after a long at bat, Pellicano forced a groundout to St. Jean, who transferred it on to Sebastian to pick up the W.
With the victory, Villanova moves to 42-24 all-time against the Hawks.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats return to the Villanova Softball Complex this weekend, taking on BIG EAST rival Connecticut in a three-game series.
