ATLANTA, Ga. – The Villanova Wildcats bounced back from their winless season opener with a dominant second day, toppling the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 5-2 on Friday night for a sweep of the evening.
Lilly St. Jean provided the firepower for Villanova (2-2), blasting a two-run home run in the opening inning and later adding an RBI double to account for three of the squad's runs. Chloe Smith scored on each of those St. Jean efforts, having reached on a pair of walks and scoring from first each time.
Caroline Pellicano locked down the circle again for the 'Cats in her second start in as many days, picking up her 12th career win after a complete game effort with no earned runs allowed. The senior hurler induced 13 ground ball outs and struck out one, with her performance including a retirement of nine batters in a row following a leadoff double in the fourth.
The Wildcats landed the opening blow for the first time this weekend by striking in inning one, with Smith working a two-out walk before St. Jean belted one out of the yard to grant her side a 2-0 advantage.
Georgia Tech answered right away though, using two bunt singles, a two-base error and a groundout to level the matchup in a hurry.
It was almost deja vu in the third inning for Villanova, with Smith receiving a walk on four pitches and St. Jean delivering with a rope that beat a diving center fielder and rolled to the wall for an RBI double to put VU ahead again, now 3-2.
The Yellow Jackets threatened during their fourth frame hacks, putting a runner in scoring position with a leadoff double. But an impressive Ava Franz extension on a liner and smooth plays by St. Jean and Grace Reed allowed the 'Cats to maintain a one-run advantage.
VU put some pressure on the tournament hosts in the next inning as Tess Cites and Franz both walked with one out. Despite a pair of balls put into play by the next two hitters, nobody crossed the dish to keep the tally at 4-2.
The fifth saw Elaina Wagner continue her strong Friday with a rifle down the right field line for her second two-bagger on the day. Ally Jones came on to pinch hit for the 'Cats and came through, belting a double over a leaping player at first to give Villanova some cushion.
Victoria Sebastian followed that up with a prolonged at bat including a pair of two-strike foul balls, concluded by a shot to the left side of the infield that caught a glove and trickled into the outfield so that Jones could cross the plate and put VU up 5-2.
Pellicano's batters retired streak was broken with a leadoff double in the seventh, followed by a single into center to bring the tying run to the plate. The senior pitcher got a fielder's choice groundout and a popout to make it two down, then a groundout to the game's star St. Jean brought the Wildcats to even on the year.
The victory marks the 75th win over an ACC opponent in VU softball history, and it's the first W the Wildcats have picked up in four games against Georgia Tech.
UP NEXT: Villanova will wrap up its stay in Georgia with a rematch against the Longwood Lancers on Saturday morning, now slated for 10:00 a.m. at Mewborn Field.
