Villanova softball went 0-4 at the Clemson Classic this weekend, suffering losses to Clemson, Elon (twice) and Marshall.
The Wildcats opened the series on Friday with a walk-off loss to Clemson, 1-0, in eight innings.
Offense was difficult for both teams to come by for most of the game. Villanova failed to capitalize with runs despite drawing four walks over the first two innings and recording its first two hits of the game, each a single, in the third
Clemson had six hits before extra innings but also failed to score.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, the Wildcats were granted a runner on second base to begin the top of the eighth inning. Villanova failed to move the runner and remained scoreless.
After clearing the first seven innings without allowing a run, Villanova freshman pitcher Lexi Kobryn returned to the circle to begin the bottom of the eighth inning with the free runner placed on second base for the Tigers. Clemson sophomore Julia Knowler entered the box and grounded a single into right field, bringing home the winning run
Kobryn took the tough-luck loss for the Wildcats, pitching seven-plus innings and allowing seven hits and one unearned run. She also walked two batters and struck out one.
“Lexi [Kobryn] did a great job of sticking to the game plan,” head coach Bridget Orchard said. “[Kobryn] was working with [Villanova] pitching coach Grace [Fagan] and trying to figure out how they’re gonna attack these batters again and again.”
In the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, Elon defeated Villanova, 4-3.
Elon scored the first runs of the game in the top of the second on an RBI single.
The Wildcats answered in the bottom of the third with two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Senior pitcher Kelsey White plated the first run with a sacrifice fly and senior shortstop Ava Franz followed with an RBI single.
Elon tied the game in the top of the fifth with an RBI single. Then, in the top of the seventh, the Phoenix took a 4-2 lead with two runs scored off a Villanova error.
The Wildcats brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh after the first two hitters reached. Freshman Jaclyn Morra’s pinch hit ground out made it a one-run game, but White struck out to end the game.
For Villanova, Kobryn took her second tough-luck loss in as many games, giving up two runs over two innings of relief. She allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out three batters.
In Saturday’s second game, Villanova fell to Marshall, 3-2.
Villanova took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on junior center fielder Madison Ostrowski’s RBI groundout.
Marshall answered to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, adding runs on an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly.
The Wildcats evened the score in the top of the sixth inning when junior Maddie Burrows delivered a pinch-hit RBI double.
Marshall quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as an RBI triple put them ahead, 3-2.
The Fighting Herd retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the seventh to seal the victory.
For Villanova, junior pitcher Kat Gallant pitched to a complete game loss, allowing seven hits and three runs (two earned) in six innings of work. She also walked one batter and recorded one strikeout.
“[Gallant] is mature and experienced,” Orchard said. “She’s a junior this year, and she’s composed and she competes and has a lot of really good stuff.”
In the tournament finale on Sunday, Elon defeated Villanova, 6-2.
The Phoenix opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, plating a run on an RBI single, before adding another run to go up, 2-0, in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly.
Villanova tied the game in the top of the fourth when sophomore DP Maranda Runco blasted a two-run home run.
In the bottom of the sixth, Wildcat pitcher Kobryn loaded the bases with walks before surrendering a grand slam to Elon redshirt junior left fielder Chloe Hatzopoulos to make the score 6-2.
In the top of the seventh inning, Villanova managed to bring the tying run to the on-deck circle with no outs when the first two runners of the inning reached. The comeback bid ended there, however, as the next three hitters were retired to end the game.
Kobryn recorded the loss for the Wildcats, surrendering four runs on two hits and three walks in 1.1 innings pitched. She also struck out one batter.
The Cats will return to action this Friday in Salem, VA, where they will compete in the Hokie Invite from Feb. 28 to March 2.
This weekend will be Villanova’s last road trip before opening Big East play at home against UConn on March 7.
