Mission Accomplished! Pirates Defeat Villanova to Capture the BIG EAST Championship! - Seton Hall University Athletics
Storrs, Conn. - The Seton Hall softball team all season long has been winning games but looking to accomplish more. At the end of their to-accomplish list ...
Storrs, Conn. - The Seton Hall softball team all season long has been winning games but looking to accomplish more. At the end of their to-accomplish list was winning the BIG EAST Championship, and today, the Pirates can declare Mission Accomplished.
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year Kelsey Carr (Ridgewood, N.Y.) threw a complete game gem, and sophomore Olivia Gilbert (Johnston, R.I.) homered and drove in two as the Pirates topped Villanova, 6-1, to claim the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament championship, the program's first conference title since 2005. The Pirates have earned an automatic bid into the 2023 NCAA Tournament and will learn where they are headed Sunday night during the NCAA Div. I Softball Selection Show at 7 p.m., on ESPN2.
Led by tournament most outstanding player Shelby Smith (Friendswood, Texas), the Pirates ran roughshod over the tournament field, going 4-0 and smashing 13 extra-base hits. Smith alone hit 8-for-13 with two home runs, three doubles and 11 RBI.
How it Happened
After a scoreless first, the Pirates slapped a crooked number on the board in the second to pull ahead. Seton Hall opened the frame with three straight hits, the last of which was a Gilbert RBI single to put the Pirates on top. After a Hannah Alexander (Wrightstown, N.J.) sacrifice fly, Ashly Colonnetta (Cypress, Texas) laced an RBI single to center to make it 3-0. Later in the inning, Colonnetta would cross the plate on a wild pitch to complete a four-run inning for The Hall.
The Pirates' bats went back to work in the third, as Carr led off the inning with a single to right center. After a groundout moved pinch runner Miranda Arruda (Pawcatuck, Conn.) up to second, Abby Wingo (Portland, Ore.) singled to center to make it a 5-0 Pirates lead.
With Seton Hall off to a fast start, Villanova came to the plate trying to mount a comeback. Carr would work some magic in the circle, navigating her way out of jams in the third and fourth innings. In the third, the Wildcats had back-to-back singles to open the inning. Carr was able to set down the next three batters to keep Villanova off the board.
In the fourth, the Wildcats once again hit back-to-back singles to start the frame. After a walk loaded the bases with one out, Carr escaped the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.
In the fifth, Gilbert struck once more for the Pirates. The sophomore launched the first pitch she saw over the wall in right center to extend the Seton Hall lead to 6-0.
Villanova got one run back in the sixth, but still trailed the Pirates by five runs entering the bottom of the seventh. Carr trotted back out to the circle to try and record the final three outs. With a runner at first and two down, Carr induced a fly ball to center field that fell into the glove of Wingo, making the Pirates BIG EAST Champions for the first time in 18 years.
Notes & Numbers
- This is Seton Hall's first BIG EAST title since 2005, when the Pirates won their second of back-to-back conference championships.
- The Pirates will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history, with previous appearances coming in 2001, 2004 and 2005.
- The Pirates won their 42nd game of the season, setting a new program best win improvement from season-to-season. The Pirates won just 20 games a season ago for a +22 win improvement, besting the +21 win improvement between the 1998 and 1999 seasons.
- All four of Gilbert's base hits this week knocked in runs.
The Pirates will await their matchup in the 2023 NCAA Softball Tournament when selections are announced at 7 p.m. on Sunday on ESPN2.
Most Outstanding Player
Shelby Smith, Seton Hall, Sr., Pitcher
BIG EAST All-Tournament Team
Shelby Smith, Seton Hall, Sr., Pitcher
Taylor Hill, Seton Hall, So., INF
Olivia Gilbert, Seton Hall, So. 1B
Kelsey Carr, Seton Hall, Jr., P
Caroline Pellicano, Villanova, Jr., Pitcher
Ava Franz, Villanova, So., INF
London Jarrard, St. John's, So. UT
Payton Kinney, UConn, Jr., Pitcher
Baylee Cosgrove, DePaul, So., INF
