Wildcats End Busy Day with 6-4 Win over Chattanooga :: LaMarca's pinch-hit two-run single in sixth inning makes the difference

March 8, 2008

CLEARWATER, Fla. - After two straight days of rain clogged up the schedule at the Under Armour Invitational hosted by South Florida, the participating teams were forced to fit a full schedule of games into just two days. Villanova (5-7) had a busy day on Saturday and completed three games during the day.

In the morning, the Wildcats picked up a game against Long Island that began the evening before and were defeated 3-2. Later in the day, Villanova fell to Purdue 11-3 before picking up a 6-4 win over Chattanooga in a night game.

The Wildcats used clutch hitting from their underclassmen to defeat the Mocs for their only win of the day. After Chattanooga tied the score 3-3 with two runs in the top of the sixth inning, Villanova rallied for three of its own in the bottom half to take the lead for good.

Sophomore Eryn Teague (Wilmington, N.C.) opened the Wildcat sixth with a single to right-center, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by classmate Jess O'Boyle (Verona, N.J.) and scored on a single by freshman Kirsten Jelinski (Los Angeles, Calif.).

After freshman Allie Heon (Leesburg, Va.) singled the Mocs got the second out of the inning. However, freshman Becky LaMarca (Whippany, N.J.) entered as a pinch-hitter and singled up the middle to plate the runners at second and third.

LaMarca's hit put Villanova ahead 6-3 and proved to be the difference in the game after Chattanooga scored a run in the top of the seventh before junior Laura Determan (San Diego, Calif.) closed the game out. Determan scattered nine hits and four earned runs while striking out six to earn the complete-game victory.

In the 11-3 loss to Purdue, the Wildcats allowed seven runs on five hits and four walks in the top of the first inning to fall into an early hole. The Boilermakers cruised from there and limited Villanova to just five hits in the game.

Teague hit a solo home run in the second inning to get the Wildcats on the board and O'Boyle went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in, including a two-run single in the third inning.