STORRS, Conn. – Villanova softball captured its first ever BIG EAST regular season title with a 4-2 victory over the Connecticut Huskies on Sunday afternoon, taking the series with the Huskies and securing the No. 1 overall seed in the conference championship.
Kelsey White had a big day all-around for Villanova (27-20, 18-3 BIG EAST), scoring twice with a home run and RBI single while also fanning four batters as VU's starting pitcher.
Ally Jones added a pair of hits with a double in the contest while Chloe Smith contributed a pair of base knocks including a two-bagger and RBI single. Lilly St. Jean doubled and earned three free passes with Tess Cites reaching base three times on a base knock and two walks.
Alyssa Seidler threw an inning of relief with two strikeouts as Caroline Pellicano continued her dominance in the circle with three shutout innings for the win and just a pair of hits allowed.
Connecticut got the game's first baserunner with a leadoff knock through the left side, but for the second game in a row it was Jones tossing her out stealing at second to record one down. White fanned the other two to face the minimum and end it as a scoreless first.
St. Jean smashed a pitch into center field in the second for a leadoff two-bagger and VU's first runner of the game, but the 'Cats couldn't capitalize as three strikeouts ended the chance.
UConn made them pay by getting the game's scoring started with a solo shot to begin the home half of that frame, going ahead 1-0.
That wouldn't last long though as White helped herself out, crushing the third inning's first pitch way out of the yard for her second dinger of the year and a tie ballgame.
After White worked out of a one-out infield single for a scoreless third, St. Jean got hit by a pitch and Smith belted a double to get a pair into scoring position. White came up and pulled through again, lacing a base knock into left to score one and grant her side a 2-1 advantage.
The Huskies wouldn't wait long to tie it up, answering in the bottom half with a single, three walks and a sacrifice fly for a tie game before Seidler stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout of the BIG EAST's leading hitter.
UConn brought in a new pitcher who walked Cites on four pitches, surrendered a Jones double and walked St. Jean for the bases loaded. The hosts brought the starting pitcher back in and she got the two necessary outs, keeping it tied up at two.
Brooklyn Ostrowski scorched one at third to open the sixth and it was mishandled for a VU runner, but White soon replaced her on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Cites rocketed one back at the pitcher for a single before Elaina Wagner delivered a grounder through the middle to score White and grant Villanova a 3-2 advantage.
Jones singled and St. Jean walked for a pair on the bases in the seventh, then Smith roped one down the third base line to score an insurance run and send Pellicano back to the rubber with a two-run edge.
Connecticut got a leadoff liner up the middle for an early baserunner in their final hacks, but the senior right-hander induced a flyout before Ava Franz turned a game-ending 6-6-3 double play to grant the Wildcats their first ever BIG EAST regular season title.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats play one more conference series before heading to Providence for the BIG EAST Championship, hosting the Butler Bulldogs from May 3-5 with Senior Day set for Saturday's matchup.
