Late Rally Dooms Pirates Against Villanova, 8-5

Friday, April 10

Villanova, PA

3:30 p.m.

Seton Hall University

13-23, 3-13

Villanova

9-31, 5-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Seton Hall	2	0	1	2	0	0	0	5	14	2
Villanova	0	2	0	0	5	1	X	8	7	0

4/10/2026 6:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

VILLANOVA, PA. – Despite superb showings from the top half of the batting order, the Seton Hall softball team (13-23, 3-13) fell late to the Villanova Wildcats (9-31, 5-11), at the Villanova Softball Complex.

How It Happened
With the season at stake this weekend, The Hall came out of the gates against Villanova on fire. After a pair of leadoff singles, Naya Martinez and Erin Howard drove home Angelina Benitez and Katey Brennan to give Seton Hall the early 2-0 lead. In the second inning, they had a chance to add more runs but were unable to capitalize. Unfortunately for the Pirates, the Wildcats capitalized on that misfortune by sending a ball over the left field wall to tie the game 2-2 after two innings.

One RBI after another 🧮#HALLin🔵⚪️ | #HooksUp🪝 pic.twitter.com/hievfR0V6W
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) April 10, 2026

Now locked in another close battle, Seton Hall had to find a response to counter the Wildcats' momentum. That response would be found in an expedient fashion to lead off the inning, thanks to once again o Howard. After working a 3-1 count before seeing a pitch up in the zone. The senior turned on that pitch and launched it over the wall to open the inning to not only make it a 3-2 lead for Seton Hall, but also secure her 100th career hit.

Hit No. 100 was a loooong one 💣#HALLin🔵⚪️ | #HooksUp🪝 pic.twitter.com/DXlq1wMOf7
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) April 10, 2026

Even with the momentum, the Pirates could not bring home another runner in the third despite loading the bases with two outs. After stalling Villanova's offense once again, the Pirates found themselves with another runner in scoring position with two outs. This time, Lea Kosinski connected on the first pitch of her at-bat and sent a no-doubter over the outfield wall to extend the Pirates' lead to 5-2.

Lea said "ball go boom" 💥#HALLin🔵⚪️ | #HooksUp🪝 pic.twitter.com/ryMJYgKEIB
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) April 10, 2026

Just as everything appeared to be going Seton Hall's way, The Hall's tidal wave came crashing to shore. In the fifth inning, Villanova's first seven runners reached base safely as the home team handed the Pirates their first deficit of the day, 7-5. Those issues were only compounded when, after being unable to capitalize on a bases-loaded, one-out situation at the plate, Seton Hall gave up another run in the bottom of the frame to make it a three-run deficit.

Needing three runs to tie the game in the seventh frame, The Hall once again got two runners on with one out. Unfortunately, two live-ball outs on six pitches would seal Seton Hall's fate, handing the team an 8-5 loss to open the series.
News & Notes

With the loss, the Pirates move to 13-22 on the season and 3-12 in BIG EAST play.
With a career-high four hits today, Benitez has now recorded a hit in 32 of 36 games this season.
Brennan 3-for-5 with one run scored today, pushing her to 20 runs scored and 40 hits on the season.
- Brennan has now recorded three hits in four straight games and is 12-for-14 in that span.
With two hits, a home run, a run scored and two RBI today, Howard recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
- Howard recorded her 100^th career hit on the solo home run.
With her two-run home run today, Kosinski recorded her 15^th hit of the season.

What's Next
The Pirates will continue their road series in the Keystone State at the Villanova Wildcats tomorrow, Saturday, April 11. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 12 p.m.