Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

TROUTVILLE, Va. - Villanova (1-1) rolled to an 8-0 victory in five innings over Rider (1-1) in its season opener and then fell 4-1 to host and 22nd-ranked Virginia Tech (1-1) on the first day of the Hokies United Memorial Tournament at the Botetourt Sports Complex.

In the opening game, junior Laura Determan (San Diego, Calif.) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning in her first start since returning from shoulder surgery. She wound up allowing just one hit and striking out eight in 4 1/3 innings to record the win.

Playing as the home team against the Broncs, the Wildcats scored in all four of their at-bats to claim the win. Villanova plated two runs in the first inning and four in the second before scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings. Sophomore Eryn Teague (Wilmington, N.C.) went 3-for-3 with two doubles and four runs batted in for the Wildcats. She doubled home the two runs in the first inning and her run-scoring double in the fourth inning provided the margin necessary for the game to end after five innings with Villanova ahead by eight runs.

The Wildcats put together eight runs on 10 hits and did not strike out in the win over Rider. Sophomore Jess O'Boyle (Verona, N.J.) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and senior Jessica Curtis (Yorba Linda, Calif.) had one hit and scored three runs.

Villanova continued its strong play when it took on the Hokies, who have been ranked as high as 15th in the nation this year. Virginia Tech had already played 10 games prior to this weekend's tournament, while the Wildcats played their first two games of the year today.

Facing one of the top pitchers in the nation, the Villanova offense hung tough against the Hokies Angela Tincher. Junior Meghan Morese (Laguna Hills, Calif.) doubled with one out in the fifth inning and freshman Allie Heon (Leesburg, Va.) doubled with two outs to score the lone Wildcat run. That run trimmed a Virginia Tech lead to just 2-1 before the Hokies eventually scored a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Tincher struck out 16 and walked just one, while the two doubles she allowed in the fifth inning were the only hits against her. Tincher retired the first 13 batters she faced as well as the last seven to prevent Villanova from stringing a longer rally together. Freshman Becky LaMarca (Whippany, N.J.) walked with two out in the fifth inning to account for the Wildcats only other base runner.

Inclement weather on Friday forced this weekend's tournament to be a two-day event. Villanova is playing in Pool A in the eight-team tournament and will face Robert Morris on Sunday at 11 a.m. All four teams in Pool A went 1-1 on Saturday. The Wildcats will also play at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday against a team from Pool B, which includes Rutgers, Saint Joseph's, Troy and Winthrop.