PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For the fifth straight season, Villanova softball is on to Championship Saturday at the BIG EAST Tournament as the Wildcats took down Connecticut 4-1 on Friday afternoon.
Kelsey White twirled a gem in the circle for Villanova (30-22), surrendering just one run while striking out six as the starter and game winner. Caroline Pellicano appeared in relief and earned the save after one-plus frames in the circle.
Elizabeth Gray led the way offensively for the Wildcats with a pair of hits, a walk and a run scored while Tess Cites reached base all four times featuring a trio of walks and another of VU's runs. The top four hitters in the order all drove in runners, most coming on a season-high three sacrifice flies.
It looked like Connecticut might be the first to strike in their first hacks as the Huskies loaded up the bases on a hit by pitch, error on a tailor-made double play and an infield single. But White bounced right back with her second strikeout of the inning, stranding the bags juiced.
The 'Cats answered instantly with a number of patient plate appearances, getting free passes from Cites, Elaina Wagner and Lilly St. Jean to earn ducks on the pond. Ally Jones lifted one into deep left for a sacrifice fly, then what looked to be a White RBI double was ruled foul after review so the lead went back to 1-0.
After White stranded another runner in scoring position, Chloe Smith led off the bottom of the second with VU's first hit before Brooklyn Ostrowski walked and Gray slapped one into left for another bases loaded situation and nobody out.
Cites drew a four-pitch walk to plate Smith before Wagner and St. Jean each drove in runs on a sacrifice fly for a 4-0 game after a pair of frames.
White faced another RISP situation after two infield base knocks and a hit by pitch, but the right-hander induced a groundout to keep the Huskies off the board.
Gray singled through the left side for her second hit of the afternoon, then Cites earned her third base on balls but the Wildcats couldn't add to the advantage in the fourth.
Connecticut got two runners into scoring position in the sixth, then got on the scoreboard with a swinging bunt but Pellicano induced a flyout to prevent further damage and keep the lead at 4-1.
Despite a Gray walk and a tough luck Cites fielder's choice on what could have been a single if not for a heads up throw, the 'Cats couldn't advance the edge and it was up to Pellicano to send VU into the championship.
The right-hander delivered by retiring all three in order with a game-winning strikeout capping off her 15th career save and allowing the senior to set the all-time VU record for saves.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats are moving on to Championship Saturday, needing one win in two chances for the program's third BIG EAST title in the last four years. The championship is set for 4:00 p.m. from Glay Field opposite the Creighton Bluejays, who defeated both St. John's and Connecticut in Friday elimination games.
