VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova softball finished out its bounceback weekend with a bang on Sunday afternoon, run-ruling St. John's 11-3 for a sweep of the Red Storm at the Villanova Softball Complex.
Lilly St. Jean reached base three times with a two-run game-tying homer as well as two walks for Villanova (22-17, 13-2 BIG EAST) as Brooklyn Ostrowski and Chloe Smith each totaled a pair of hits on the day.
Kelsey White struck out three in her two innings of starting work while Alyssa Seidler picked up the victory with a flawless trio of frames in the circle.
After a scoreless first for both sides, St. John's struck in the second with a pair of doubles, a couple walks and an RBI single to make it a 3-0 game.
Smith got the Wildcats' first hit with a second-frame base knock into right, then White pulled through with a double into the gap to score Smith and pull one back.
Ally Jones worked a one-out walk in the third and St. Jean made the pitcher pay, blasting one over the wall in left field for her fifth of the year and a tie ballgame.
The 'Cats kept that momentum going in the ensuing frame for a six-run, bat-around inning. Ostrowski roped a single into left and White walked before a wild pitch got both into scoring position. Elizabeth Gray looped a single into left to score one before Tess Cites drove another in on a sacrifice fly for a two-run advantage.
Three walks kept the line moving as a wild pitch scored Gray, a fielder's choice got Elaina Wagner across then a base knock from Smith plated Jones and Ava Franz to make it a 9-3 home edge.
With Seidler dealing in the circle and retiring nine Johnnies in a row, the 'Cats tried to reach the run rule threshold in the fifth as Cites and Wagner each singled for a pair of baserunners. After St. Jean walked to load the bases, a Franz grounder got under an infielder's glove and went into the outfield to score two runners and grant the Wildcats an 11-3 victory.
The win grants Villanova its fourth sweep of the BIG EAST schedule and moves the 'Cats to 54-38 all-time against the Red Storm.
UP NEXT: The final home midweek game of 2024 comes against Lehigh at the Villanova Softball Complex on Wednesday before the Wildcats head to Chicago for a three-game tilt opposite the DePaul Blue Demons.