March 24, 2010
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Senior Gina Massaro led the Explorers with a 3-for-6 showing at the plate with four runs scored on the day and pitched a complete game win in game two to help lead the Explorers to a doubleheader sweep of Villanova. With the two wins, the Explorers improve to 7-7, while the Wildcats fall to 5-12.
Kristen Paoletti worked six innings in the first game to pick up a win. On the offensive side, freshman Liz Reed went 2-for-3 including a game-winning home run in the second game. Ali Shepherd added a 2-for-4 showing at the plate in game two including a two-run home run to tie up the game. Mary Pat Conville led the RBI count with three on the day.
The Explorers tabbed the Wildcats early for a run as Massaro crossed the plate on an Angelina Bisbiglia single to left field. Villanova tied it up in the top of the fourth, but the Explorers answered right back with two more in the next frame to regain the lead at 3-1.
Reed drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth and advanced to second on Massaro's single down the left field line. Two batters later, Conville ripped a bases-clearing double to left field to score both Reed and Massaro.
The 3-1 score held up down the stretch as the Explorers took the first game over their Big East foes. Paoletti went six innings and gave up one run on seven hits and fanned three while walking none. Massaro picked up the save as she pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Caitlin Delahaba worked the pitcher's circle for the Wildcats, pitching a complete game effort. She gave up three runs on seven hits, struck out eight and walked four.
The Wildcats drew first blood in the nightcap, plating two runs in the top of the second inning on a double by Amanda Marquez followed up by a Shannon O'Brien triple. O'Brien crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly for the second score.
Shepherd's two-run home run in the bottom of the third locked the score at two apiece. She also scored Massaro, who reached base on a single just past the shortstop.
The Explorers gained the lead for good when Reed led off the fifth inning with a solo shot which proved to be the game winner. The home run was Reed's second in the past four days. Massaro followed up by drawing a walk and blitzed around three bases on Conville's single to the right center field fence for the second run of the inning and the eventual 4-2 final score.
The Wildcats appeared to threaten in the sixth with a runner on second and one out, but Molly Manning lined into a double play to end the threat. Reed snagged the line drive and touched second base for the two-out play. The Explorers forced a 1-2-3 seventh inning once again to preserve the win.
Massaro went the distance in game two as she gave up two runs on five hits, struck out three and walked one. Manning pitched for the Wildcats, also going the full game. She gave up four runs on 10 hits, struck out 12 and walked one.
The Explorers hit the road as they travel to Dayton for a 3:00 PM contest on Friday and a noon contest on Saturday. They return to West Campus Field on April 1st to host Massachusetts.
