SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – On a cold and rainy day in North Jersey, the Villanova Wildcats suffered a 9-1 loss to the Seton Hall Pirates in the finale of the weekend series.
Freshman Kat Gallant received the loss for Villanova (32-20, 15-6 BIG EAST) after surrendering four runs during her two-plus frames in the circle. Kelsey White (1.1 innings) and Peyton Schnackenberg (one-plus innings) both appeared in relief for the Wildcats,
Tess Cites singled to lead off the game then Chloe Smith replaced her on first with a fielder's choice. Smith moved up to third on a stolen base and passed ball before Victoria Sebastian joined her on the basepaths with an 11-pitch walk. Smith tried to break the scoreless tie by swiping home on a wild pitch, but was tagged out before reaching the plate.
Gallant punched out two hitters in the first, but Seton Hall still struck by blasting a leadoff double off the fence on the first pitch of the inning then going up 1-0 on another two-bagger a batter later.
Ava Franz got the 'Cats started in the second with a screamer off the wall for a double, then was brought around to score on some small ball with a grounder getting her to third and a sacrifice fly from White tying up the game.
Cites took a pitch to the elbow to get Villanova a baserunner in the third, moving up to third on a groundout and stolen base. Ally Jones roped a ball up the middle, but it was snared by the shortstop to keep the game tied.
The Pirates began their half of the third with a single and an error getting the leadoff hitter to second, then she advanced on a groundout and beat Lilly St. Jean's throw home to deliver SHU its second advantage of the day. Seton Hall made it a 4-1 ballgame with a two-run homer, forcing the Wildcats to move White into the circle from right field.
Good fortune helped SHU in the fourth inning as the first pitch of the frame was roped off of St. Jean's glove and ricocheted to the fence to get the leadoff batter to third. That came back to bite the 'Cats as a groundout brought the run home and gave Seton Hall a 5-1 edge.
The Pirates proceeded to load the bases and a two-RBI single got them up by six before a rain delay halted the game with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. After a nearly hour-long delay, play resumed and Seton Hall tacked on another to make it an 8-1 game.
SHU ended the contest in the fifth stanza, loading the bases on an infield single and a pair of walks before drawing a walkoff walk to induce the eight-run rule.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats will finish out the regular season with a home series, taking on the Providence Friars at the Villanova Softball Complex from May 5-7.
