VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova softball picked up its 10th straight victory and third BIG EAST sweep in a row with a 4-3 victory over Georgetown on Sunday afternoon.
Tess Cites provided the runs for Villanova (18-11, 9-0 BIG EAST) with a trio of runs batted in and a run scored after a two-hit outing. Elaina Wagner extended her team-high hitting streak to 10 games after reaching base three times on the day (double, single, walk) and Victoria Sebastian earned a pair of walks with a hit and two runs scored for the 'Cats.
Kat Gallant threw five innings in the start for the Wildcats, striking out five and surrendering just four hits in the ballgame. Caroline Pellicano tossed the final two frames for VU, earning her fourth win this season with a one-run outing.
After a 1-2-3 inning from Gallant to start things out, Villanova loaded the bases with a trio of walks but a couple strikeouts ended the chance to score in the opener.
Another RISP situation awaited the 'Cats in frame two on a one-out walk and groundout to get Sebastian into scoring position, but Cites' laser into right field was snared on an over-the-shoulder grab to keep it scoreless.
With Gallant mowing down the Hoya lineup and VU's offense struggling for hard contact, Wagner finally got the game's first hit with a rope for a double off the wall in left center but a strikeout once again kept zeroes on the board.
Georgetown broke up the perfect game and no hitter with back-to-back singles with one down in the fourth, though Gallant worked out of it with a pair of 4-3 groundouts to keep the contest at 0-0.
Sebastian reached base with two out in the fourth on an 11-pitch walk, then Elizabeth Gray beat out an infield single to turn the lineup over. Cites proceeded to rip one through the left side and Sebastian got around the tag at the plate, getting the 'Cats ahead 1-0.
It wouldn't take long for the Hoyas to strike back with a single through the left side being followed by a two-run bomb for a 2-1 visitor lead.
GU added to its advantage in the sixth on a two-out single, taking advantage of a walk and groundout that got a runner to second for a 3-1 edge.
Villanova's experience came through in the sixth, with the home side bringing nine to the plate in a five-hit, three-run frame to re-take the lead. It started with back-to-back singles from Sebastian and Lilly St. Jean, who both moved up on a wild pitch for a pair in scoring position.
The BIG EAST Player of the Year pulled through for her squad, singling back through the middle for a pair of runs and a tie game. Chloe Smith added a base knock with a rope into left, then Ally Jones ripped a pitch into left field to score Cites and allow a 4-3 VU advantage.
Georgetown wasn't going down without a fight, stringing together a pair of singles to kick off the seventh. But Pellicano rebounded, striking out the next hitter and retiring the second on a 1-3 for two outs. With runners on second and third, it took a diving play from Smith to record the third out and deliver a 10th straight win for the Wildcats.
With the sweep, the 'Cats move to 24-13 all-time against Georgetown with wins in 19 of the last 20 contests in the series.
UP NEXT: Villanova's BIG EAST bye week coincides with Easter, so the 'Cats will take part in four non-conference contests from Mar. 27-30. VU will travel to Drexel on Wednesday before hosting Virginia and No. 16 Missouri on Friday and Saturday.
