STORRS, Conn. – The Villanova Wildcats finished as the runner-up in the 2023 BIG EAST Championship Presented By JEEP, falling to Seton Hall 6-1 in VU's fourth straight appearance in the title game.
Ava Franz and Caroline Pellicano were each named to the All-Tournament Team, as the sophomore infielder went .462 at the plate with four doubles and a home run while the junior hurler struck out nine with 13.2 innings pitched on the week.
Franz recorded two hits on Saturday for Villanova (37-22), while five other players added a base knock of their own. Ally Jones scored the lone run of the contest for the 'Cats, with Brooklyn Ostrowski providing the RBI.
The Wildcats had their share of baserunners but could not come through with a big hit to break the game open, going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 runners on base.
Kat Gallant received the loss for the Wildcats after striking out three but allowing four runs in two innings, and Pellicano did a good deal of work in the circle by tossing five stanzas.
Franz put forth the game's first hit with a two-out double in the first inning, but the Wildcats could not advance her past second.
Seton Hall answered with a leadoff two-bagger in the next frame and followed that up with back-to-back singles to bring the first run across. Gallant got the first two outs of the stanza on a sacrifice fly and groundout, but the inning's fourth and fifth hits plus an ensuing wild pitch delivered SHU a 4-0 edge.
The Pirates added to that advantage in the third with a leadoff single, an advancing groundout and an RBI base knock making it a five-run deficit for VU.
Sydney Hayes led off Villanova's answer with a bloop single that fell between three fielders in center, then Dani Dabroski laid down a picturesque bunt to put two aboard. But the Wildcats were unable to get any across as a popout, strikeout and groundout ended the chance.
After a scoreless inning for Pellicano, Victoria Sebastian began the bottom of the fourth with a single and Jones followed that up with a blooper that fell in to start the 'Cats with two aboard for a second straight stanza. A groundout moved both up a bag, then Lilly St. Jean worked a long walk to put ducks on the pond but back-to-back batters were retired to keep VU scoreless.
SHU extended its advantage in the fifth with a solo home run, putting one over the fence in right center to take a 6-0 lead.
Once again, the 'Cats got the first two batters aboard to start an inning with both Jones and Ryan Henry being hit by a pitch. A St. Jean flyout got Jones up to third, then it was pinch hitter Ostrowski coming through for Villanova with an RBI single into right field to get VU on the board.
But that was all the Wildcats could muster in the frame, as a pair of impressive plays were made on Dabroski's bunt and an ensuing line drive to end the stanza.
Franz made her third appearance on the basepaths with a one-out walk in the seventh, then Sebastian replaced her on first with a fielder's choice before Jones reached on an error. But it was a flyout ending the game and delivering the championship to the Pirates for the first time since 2005.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats will wait until Sunday's NCAA Tournament selection show to determine their postseason fate, airing at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
