April 6, 2008

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Game one of the doubleheader against USF was a wild one as the both teams combined for 21 hits in a 2 hour and 50 minute contest, that saw the Wildcats fall, 9-5.

USF struck first in the second inning with a lead-off single up the middle. A single sent pinch runner Merrill Robinson to second and she would score on a throw, giving the Bulls a 1-0 lead.

South Florida struck again in the top of the fourth with a one-out walk. Tara Toscano stole second, and then advanced to third and scored on a miscue from Villanova as USF jumped ahead, 2-0.

`Nova answered in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore Jess O'Boyle hit a two-out single. O'Boyle stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A single up the middle from senior Carolyn Brown scored O'Boyle and put the Wildcats on the board, 2-1.

The Bulls got a lead-off walk in the sixth inning, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Toscano hit an RBI double, adding another run for USF.

Trailing 3-1, junior Meghan Morese hit a lead-off single to get the `Cats rolling. Junior Natalie Hord came in to pinch run for Morese and moved to second as sophomore Eryn Teague was walked in the next at-bat. Both runners moved up a base on a passed ball and O'Boyle followed with an RBI single to the third base side, as Villanova closed in, 3-2. O'Boyle stole second and Brown was walked to load the bases for the `Cats. Freshman Becky LaMarca stepped in to pinch hit and hit an RBI single, scoring Teague and tying the ball game at three apiece. Jackie Dempsey reach first on a fielder's choice, earning an RBI as O'Boyle crossed the plate for the fourth run. A single from sophomore Danielle Maricle earned her an RBI and scored Brown keeping the Wildcats ahead, 6-3. The inning would end with two runners left on base, but Villanova took its lead.

USF would not go away quietly as JoJo Medina hit a lead-off double to centerfield. Allison Savarese hit an RBI double, scoring the pinch runner and taking the score to 6-4. As the top of the seventh ended, USF was able to score six runs, taking a 9-5 lead. The Villanova offense would not add anymore runs in the bottom of the inning, as the Bulls took game one, 9-5.

O'Boyle was 2-of-3 with two runs and one RBI, while Maricle was 2-of-4 with one RBI. The Wildcats had 10 combined hits in the game.