Softball Drops Game One of Doubleheader to Villanova
5/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Drops Game One of Doubleheader to Villanova
5/6/2005
VILLANOVA, Pa.?An eight-run second inning propelled Villanova past Pitt in game one of a crucial Big East doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The Wildcats won game one, 9-0, in five innings to set up a one-game showdown for the fourth and final berth in the Big East Championships.
The winner of game two will qualify for next week's four-team tournament, held at the Belleville Softball Complex in South Bend, Ind.
Villanova (37-23, 9-8 Big East) scored eight runs in the second and added one in the fourth to keep Pitt (23-28, 8-7) from clinching the spot with a win in game one. The Wildcats had 12 hits and allowed just three by the Panthers.
Pitt starter Christa Hunter (Sacramento, Calif./Hiram Johnson West) dropped to 10-14 and was charged with six of the eight runs in the second inning. She lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing five hits and three walks before giving way to sophomore Laura Belardinelli (Endicott, N.Y./Union-Endicott). Belardinelli allowed a grand slam to right fielder Allie Wisniewski and was charged with two earned runs in 1.1 innings of work.
The Panthers' hits were a single by Casey Pickard (Newhall, Calif./William S. Hart) in the first inning, a second-inning double by Jessica Dignon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), and a fifth-inning single by Sheena Hellon (Sacramento, Calif./Cordova).
The second game will begin shortly after 2 p.m. at the VU Softball Field.