April 17, 2008

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Two hits and one run in the bottom of the sixth inning were not enough to makeup a 6-4 deficit as the Wildcats dropped the first game of a doubleheader against Princeton on Thursday afternoon.

Princeton struck first in the first inning as the second batter was walked and then made it around the field on an RBI double. The Tigers earned another run in the second inning, jumping out to a 2-0 lead.

A lead off single from sophomore Jess O'Boyle got the second inning rolling for the Wildcats and moved over on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Allie Heon. Senior Jackie Dempsey knocked one into left field, sending O'Boyle to third and then to home on an RBI fielder's choice from senior Carolyn Brown. Senior Jessica Curtis was walked to load the bases for Villanova as they trailed 2-1. Junior Meghan Morese came up with a huge two RBI single to left field that would score Brown and Dempsey as the `Cats took a 3-2 lead.

The Tigers scored again in the fourth on a miscue from Villanova and took a 4-3 lead in the fifth after a lead off triple that was sent home following an error.

Trailing 6-3 heading into the sixth inning, Dempsey hit a lead off single and moved to second on a ground out in the next at-bat. A wild pitch saw Dempsey advance to third and she was sent home following an RBI single from Curtis on a play that was called safe at the plate. `Nova would leave two runners stranded as the inning ended with the Wildcats trailing, 6-4.

O'Boyle singled up the middle with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but was thrown out at second after Heon reached first on a fielder's choice. Villanova would leave Heon on-base, falling to the Tigers, 6-4 in game one.

The Wildcats combined for 10 hits in the game. Curtis, Morese, O'Boyle and Dempsey each accounted for two hits. Senior pitcher Nicci Ward struck out nine batters in 5.2 innings pitched.