VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova softball saw its double-digit win streak snapped on Friday afternoon, falling to the RV Virginia Cavaliers 5-2 at the Villanova Softball Complex.
Ava Franz and Tess Cites both provided two-hit days for Villanova (18-12) with Franz responsible for both runs on the afternoon after a two-run sixth inning homer.
Alyssa Seidler received the loss despite allowing just one earned run and striking out three while Caroline Pellicano went three frames in relief of her classmate.
Both teams earned baserunners in the opening frame, but a Seidler K ended the UVA chance and a pickoff spoiled a RISP situation for the 'Cats to keep the score at 0-0.
Seidler got another swinging strikeout to strand a runner on second in inning two, then Franz got her side's first hit with a roped double to the wall but things stayed scoreless.
Each side put runners aboard in the third, both advancing them just 60 feet away but ultimately not able to crack the scoreboard. Cites rocketed a single back up the middle and Elaina Wagner extended her hit streak to a team-high 11 with a knock off the third base bag, though the score remained tied at zero.
Virginia broke up the pitcher's duel in the fourth, using a pair of doubles, an RBI groundout, a wild pitch and an error to muster up two runs.
The Cavaliers added to that advantage in the ensuing frame, getting a runner on a hit by pitch, stealing second then coming home on a knock up the middle for a 3-0 ballgame.
Lilly St. Jean started the sixth with a single off the third base bag to grant the 'Cats a baserunner, then Franz got VU on the board in a big way with a two-run bomb to the deepest part of the yard for a 3-2 score.
Kelsey White singled through the left side in a pinch hit appearance and Cites earned a walk, but a groundout ended the inning with the Wildcats still trailing by one.
The Hoos generated some distance in the seventh with some small ball, getting around the bases on a leadoff infield single, stolen base, sacrifice groundout and then a squeeze play for a two-run lead. The player that laid down the bunt proceeded to steal second, take third on a single and be plated with a sacrifice fly for a 5-2 UVA advantage.
Villanova got a runner aboard with two down in the game's final hacks, but VU couldn't cut into the lead and dropped contest one of the week.
UP NEXT: The 'Cats will square off against the Cavaliers again on Saturday afternoon, but first will battle No. 13 Missouri at 10:00 a.m. from the Villanova Softball Complex.
