Oct. 17, 2007

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova University softball team wrapped up its fall season this past weekend with its second home tournament. The Wildcats competed in four tournaments including two at home going 10-3-1 overall. Head Coach Maria DiBernardi was pleased with the outcome and looks forward to what the team can do this spring.

Villanova opened the fall September 23 as they hosted a small tournament with Wagner College and Temple University. In game one of the tournament Villanova faced off with Wagner going 10 innings and winning 4-3. Sophomore Eryn Teague had a double and a homerun while senior Nicci Ward and junior Megan Hord combined to pitch the 10 innings and pick up the fist Wildcat victory.

In game two the Wildcats faced Temple and handed them a 1-0 shutout. Senior Kat Walsh picked up the shutout victory. The third game was once again versus Wagner with the Seahawks getting the upper hand 5-0. Sophomore Jess O'Boyle recorded the only two hits for the Wildcats while Walsh and Hord pitched in the loss.

The second tournament of the fall was the Carole Wiel Tournament in Allentown, Pa. on September 29-30. In game one VU faced La Salle and lost 4-3 while getting 10 hits. Both O'Boyle and sophomore Danielle Maricle went 2-for-3 at the plate while Maricle added a double. Freshman Allie Heon, Teague and senior Carolyn Brown each added a double as well. Hord was the pitcher.

In game two, the Wildcats beat IUP 5-4 with a walk-off single by freshman Christina Botkins. Freshman Jill Schonberg got the start going four scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Walsh finished the game striking out three. Heon continued her hot bat going 2-for-2. O'Boyle hit her first homerun of the year over the leftfield fence giving VU a 3-0 lead.

In the third game of the day, VU fought to a scoreless tie with St. Joe's. Ward pitched the shutout while striking out six and only allowing three base runners. Maricle and Teague both went 2-for-2 at the plate with a stolen base.

On Sunday the Wildcats opened things up with a 3-0 win over St. Peter's. Ward once again pitched an outstanding game striking out nine and allowing just one hit. Senior Jessica Curtis had a hit and a stolen base while Maricle added a triple.

In the final game of the tournament, VU beat Georgian Court 3-2. Hord picked up the victory while her sister Natalie Hord scored the winning run off a passed ball in the fourth.

The next tournament for the Wildcats was the New Jersey College Tournament on September 7. The Wildcats opened the day with a 4-0 win over Caldwell College. O'Boyle was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Curtis went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Walsh and Schonberg combined for the shutout.

In Game two the Wildcats faced St. Peter's and earned their second shutout of the day, 2-0. Ward picked up the victory while Maricle and Brown drove in the two runs in the sixth.

Up next for the Wildcats was the Championship game in which they faced Fordham. They went on to lose 8-1 after a long day of softball. The only run came off a triple by junior Lauren Peterson that drove in Heon. VU would end up second in the tournament that included 10 teams.

In the final weekend of softball for the Wildcats, VU hosted Princeton, Delaware and Towson. In game one, the Wildcats beat Princeton 6-3. In the fourth inning, Heon and O'Boyle started things off with back-to-back singles in which the latter scored Heon. Following those at bats Megan Morese hit a shot over the left field fence to bring the score to 3-0. VU would add three more as Ward and Hord would hold off Princeton with their pitching.

In game number two VU beat Delaware 2-1. Maricle drove in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh while Walsh and Schonberg did the pitching. The final game of the day was against Towson in which VU won 7-4.

Towson was able to take an early 4-0 lead but the Wildcats would not be denied as they came back to win with a huge five-run fifth. Heon hit a two RBI single while Morese followed two batters later with two RBIs of her own.

Ward pitched a great game and hung on for the victory.

This would wrap up the VU softball fall season as they went 10-3-1 with many great performances from many different players.