Storrs, CT -- No. 3 Seton Hall and No. 2 Villanova are the last teams standing at the 2023 BIG EAST Softball Tournament Presented by JEEP.
The Pirates, picked seventh in the 2023 BIG EAST Preseason Poll, are on the cusp of their first tournament title since 2005 while Villanova seeks its third championship crown in as many years.
Seton Hall advanced to the BIG EAST Softball Championship title series with three consecutive victories. Villanova won its way through the consolation round for its shot at the trophy. First pitch of the potential two-game series is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET Saturday at the Burrill Family Filed at the UConn Softball Complex.
A victory for Seton Hall will conclude the tournament. A Pirate loss, however, will force an eleventh game scheduled for 7 pm. Game 10 will air on FS2. The if-necessary Game 11 will be contested on FS1.
#3 Seton Hall 6, #1 UConn 4
In a grand-showing from the third-seeded Pirates, Seton Hall defeated BIG EAST regular-season champions and No. seed 1 UConn, 6-4 to advance to the title series of 2023 BIG EAST Softball Tournament Presented by JEEP.
Without a tournament loss, Seton Hall needs just one more win for its third BIG EAST crown and first since 2005.
Senior pitcher Shelby Smith further defined dual-threat, tossing 4.1 innings while batting .360 with a grand slam for four RBI and a run scored.
UConn’s Rosie Garcia was the first to register a hit and a run. The sophomore infielder doubled to start the second inning before running home courtesy of a double by Makenzie Mason.
Seton Hall answered in the bottom of the frame when catcher Hannah Alexander launched a ball to deep left field to score BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Abby Wingo.
The Huskies went ahead again to start the third inning. BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Grace Jenkins flied out to send unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST selection Lexi Hastings home.
Again down by one, the Pirates held no punches. With one out and bases full, Smith pounded the ball over the left field fence, scoring Kelsey Carr, Taylor Hill and Ashly Colonetta for the fourth grand slam of Seton Hall’s 41-win season.
The Huskies hit back in the top of the fifth. Jenkins produced her second RBI of the game with a single to score freshman Haley Coupal. Jana Sanden moved the top seed within one, flying out to center field as Hastings crossed home plate.
With the Huskies in hot pursuit, the Pirates put another run on the board with a single from sophomore Olivia Gilbert, scoring senior Miranda Arruda.
Three outs away from the title series, the Pirates’ fate fell in the hands of its defense. Wingo’s Defensive Player of the Year prowess was on full display in the first out of the seventh inning when the centerfielder robbed Hastings of a hit at the fence.
In another major-award winner showdown, Kelsey Carr, the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year, struck out Freshman of the Year Grace Jenkins for the second out of the inning. The Pirates sailed to the Championship series on a pop-fly final out.
#2 Villanova 4, #6 DePaul 1
Second-seeded Villanova overcame sixth-seeded DePaul, 4-1, in the penultimate elimination game of the day.
At the top of the second inning, the Wildcats filled the bases with just one out and BIG EAST Player of the Year Tess Cites at bat. Cites singled to advance teammates Dani Dabroski and Lilly St. Jean and open the door for Kendall Spivey to run home.
DePaul countered in the bottom of the fifth when Allison Talbot registered an RBI single.
The 1-1 tie would not hold for long, however. At the top of the sixth Ryan Henry slipped an essential double down the first base line to put the Wildcats in scoring position. Henry would head home three batters later when graduate student outfielder Sydney Hayes dropped an RBI single to center field.
Villanova saved the best for last, lighting up in the seventh inning. Senior Chloe Smith took advantage of DePaul pitcher Bella Nigey’s first at-bat of the day, slamming a solo home run over the outfield fence. With momentum on the Wildcats side, sophomore Ava Franz stepped up just one batter later to deliver a solo homer of her own and cushioning her squad’s lead, 4-1.
Kat Gallant and Caroline Pellicano tossed 4.1 and 2.2 innings, respectively, for the victors. Pellicano struck out four, ending DePaul’s season (19-32) on a swinging strikeout.
#2 Villanova 4, #1 UConn 3
The Villanova Wildcats emerged victorious in a rematch of last two years’ title games, besting the host UConn Huskies, 4-3, for a trip to the 2023 BIG EAST Softball Championship game.
Villanova’s momentum carried into their second consecutive game as the Wildcats scored two runs at the top of the first. In a two-out hole, Ava Franz doubled down the left field line to keep the inning alive. Victoria Sebastian followed with a double of her own to send Franz home and give Villanova the early lead.
Sebastian added another run in the next at-bat when Ally Jones singled to left field for the 2-0 advantage.
The third inning was more of the same for an explosive Wildcat roster. BIG EAST Player of the Year Tess Cites launched a solo homer beyond the scoreboard to extend Villanova’s advantage to 3-0. Then, for the second time in three innings, Franz scored on a Sebastian hit to make it 4-0.
Huskies, however, hunt in the night. With the sun beyond the rolling hills of Storrs, UConn looked every bit the top-seed, sending three runs home in the sixth inning.
Aziah James was on base first, reaching on a single from the top of the order. BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Grace Jenkins followed suit, advancing to first on an error by the Wildcats’ shortstop. Without an out on the board, Jana Sanden filled the bases on a fielder’s choice.
UConn put its first tally on the board moments later when Rosie Garcia turned a single into a pair of RBI, scoring James and Jenkins. In the next at-bat, Taylor Zatyk notched an RBI fly out to score Sanden, 4-3.
The Huskies held the Wildcats at bay to begin the seventh inning, stranding three runners on base before taking the bat themselves, trailing 4-3.
Villanova’s defense handled Savannah Ring, the first of UConn’s batters, delivering an out on a fly ball to center field. Lexi Hastings, however, kept the Huskies hopes alive with a single to bring what could be the winning run to bat.
Unphased, pitcher Caroline Pellicano quickly dismissed UConn’s James on a swung strike three.
One out remained. Jenkins was at bat. Villanova had been here before. Down to their final out, opponent at the plate, victory within reach. The batter and pitcher danced through a series of balls and strikes until the count was full. Again, reminiscent of Wednesday’s walk-off loss to Seton Hall.
With the fate of two programs in her glove, Pellicano threw the pitch of her career.
Strike.
Villanova wins.
For the third consecutive season, UConn’s championship aspirations (34-15) were dismissed by the Wildcats.
Kelsey White tossed Villanova’s first five innings, striking out two. Pellicano appeared in two innings of relief, registering a trio of essential strike outs.
UConn’s First Team All-BIG EAST pitcher, Payton Kinney, came on in relief in the third inning, tossing 4.2 light’s out innings with seven strikes and no runs allowed.