VILLANOVA, Pa. – It was a series-clinching victory for Villanova softball on Senior Day, taking down the Providence Friars 11-3 in six innings at the Villanova Softball Complex on Saturday.
Villanova honored its 2023 senior class with a pregame ceremony, recognizing Dani Dabroski, Ally Jones, Victoria Sebastian and Chloe Smith. This class has combined for 117 wins and participated in the program's first ever BIG EAST Championships, as well as the first NCAA Tournament games in Villanova softball history.
Tess Cites led the way for Villanova (34-20, 17-6 BIG EAST) in the game with a 3-for-3 day, adding two runs and an RBI. Sebastian contributed two hits and two runs scored as the 'Cats plated runs in four of the game's six innings.
Kelsey White picked up the victory for the Wildcats with a six-inning, four-strikeout performance while also driving in four runs on a grand slam in the opening frame.
After White struck out the side to start out the game, the Wildcats struck right away as Cites notched a leadoff single for her 100th career hit.
Smith then reached on an error and Sebastian was the victim of an excellent play by the catcher on a bunt foulout, but a throw to first allowed Cites to get to third. Jones lifted the first pitch of her at bat into right center, earning a sacrifice fly to put the 'Cats up 1-0.
After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, it was White helping herself by blasting a grand slam into left center to grant Villanova a 5-0 advantage.
In the next frame, Sebastian beat out a single to first base, then stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Ava Franz kept up her hot streak by scorching a single back up the middle to score Sebastian and give her side a 6-0 edge.
Providence took a few back in the top of the third as a one-out walk of the leadoff hitter put the first runner aboard. A single and a wild pitch put runners on second and third, then a soft liner found its way into right field for a pair of runs.
White nearly made it a two-home run day on the first pitch of the bottom of the inning, blasting one high and deep down the left field line but the umpire ruled it foul and White's AB ended in a groundout.
Lilly St. Jean worked an eight-pitch walk to get a baserunner on for VU, then Dabroski came up big on her Senior Day with a triple over the left fielder's head to plate St. Jean. Cites added to her strong day in the next at bat, lacing a ball up the middle to bring Dabroski home and get VU up 8-2.
Providence took one back in the sixth with a leadoff single and some small ball, advancing on a passed ball, groundout and it was finally an RBI base knock making the scoreboard read 8-3.
Cites began Villanova's last hacks by belting a double down the left field line, then Sebastian put the first pitch of her at bat through the right side to return the 'Cats lead to six.
Jones singled and Franz was hit by a pitch, and it was Ryan Henry delivering the final blow with a two-RBI single to induce the run rule and grant the Wildcats an 11-3 win.
UP NEXT: The series and regular season finale is scheduled for Sunday, with first pitch coming at 12 p.m. from the Villanova Softball Complex.
