VILLANOVA, Pa. – A late rally powered Villanova softball to a 7-4 victory over Seton Hall on Sunday afternoon, granting the 'Cats a sweep of the reigning conference champions during the opening weekend of league play.
Lilly St. Jean was the star of the show for Villanova (11-11, 3-0 BIG EAST), driving in a career-best five runs on two hits with a three-run dinger after pinch hitting in the fifth. Elaina Wagner added the other two RBI for the Wildcats while Chloe Smith represented the only 'Cat to score twice.
Alyssa Seidler struck out four in the start, then Caroline Pellicano surrendered just one hit in her three innings of work to pick up the victory.
Seton Hall struck early in the matchup, scoring three runs with just one out recorded in the contest. A leadoff double and one-out walk were followed up by a three-run homer by the cleanup hitter, granting the Pirates their first lead of the weekend.
The 'Cats threatened in their first hacks, loading the bases after back-to-back singles for Ava Franz and Ally Jones before Brooklyn Ostrowski made it ducks on the pond with an eight-pitch walk. Wagner drew a base on balls with two outs to drive in one, but VU couldn't get any more and trailed 3-1 after one.
Villanova juiced the bags again in the second on a pair of walks and an Elizabeth Gray single, but couldn't capitalize as a strikeout ended the chance with the Wildcats still trailing by two.
A couple of runners reached base to open frame three for the 'Cats, but they were stranded in scoring position as a lineout double play and a tough groundout kept the deficit at a pair.
SHU extended that advantage with two outs in their next chance, sending a second ball out of the park for a solo shot and a 4-1 edge.
Jones walked to open the fifth and Ostrowski laced one back through the middle on the next pitch, prompting a Seton Hall pitching change with nobody out and two on. The next hurler came on and threw four balls to give VU the bases loaded for the third time on Sunday, this time without an out yet recorded.
Wagner pulled through for Villanova, singling back up the middle to get one home and keep them loaded. It was pinch hitter time for the Wildcats and St. Jean came up big, rocketing a base knock past second base to drive home two and tie up the ballgame at four.
After Pellicano worked through a leadoff runner due to an error, the 'Cats got a pair of runners aboard in the home half of the sixth. St. Jean stayed in the game after her pinch hit appearance and delivered, blasting a three run homer over the wall in left to get her team ahead 7-4.
Pellicano came back out for the seventh and got a trio of balls on the ground, all three fielded cleanly by Franz to preserve the victory.
With the sweep, the Wildcats move to 55-46 all-time against Seton Hall, including a 31-15 mark at the Villanova Softball Complex.
UP NEXT: The 'Cats will not take part in any midweek contests this time around, preparing for a trip up north to Rhode Island for a three-game weekend series opposite the Providence Friars.
