Smith's Heroics Guide Pirates to Extra Innings Win over Villanova

Thursday, May 11

Storrs, Conn.

3 PM

Seton Hall University

Villanova

Smith's Heroics Guide Pirates to Extra Innings Win over Villanova

5/11/2023 9:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Storrs, Conn – Shelby Smith (Friendswood, Texas) knocked in a BIG EAST Tournament record seven runs, including the game-winning three-run home run in the ninth inning, as the Pirates defeated No. 2 seed Villanova, 9-6, on Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Pirates advance to take on top-seeded UConn on Friday at 12 p.m.

How it Happened
The Seton Hall bats got off to a hot start, plating two runs in the first inning on an RBI-double from Smith. After Villanova scored four in its half of the first to take the lead, the Pirates responded with two in the second on run-scoring hits by Taylor Hill (Little Falls, N.J.) and Kelsey Carr (Ridgewood, N.Y.).

T1 | 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝘁.

Shelby Smith spots herself a 2-0 lead before she even takes the circle!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/7MOPC5RbYT
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) May 11, 2023

T2 | A 2-for-2 start for T-Hill at the dish! Her RBI double pulls us back within one!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/RV02GtyWbB
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) May 11, 2023

In the fourth inning, Smith stepped to the plate with the game still knotted at 4-4. The senior rocketed a pitch to right center for another two-run double to give Seton Hall the lead.

T4 | Pitchers. Who. RAKE.

Shelby Smith smacks her second two-run double of the game to put the Pirates back in front!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/am9oDwBP17
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) May 11, 2023

While Smith was driving in runs at the plate, she continued to dominate in the circle. After the first inning, she only allowed three baserunners and no hits through the sixth inning. However, Villanova would get to Smith in the seventh for a two-run home run to tie things up at 6-6.

After a scoreless eighth, the Pirates had the middle of their order up with a chance to retake the lead. After Hill singled and Carr walked, Smith launched a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right center for a go-ahead three-run home run.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐄!?!?

Shelby Smith puts us back on top with a three-run shot to right. She has SEVEN runs batted in.#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/8ELEiG19lp
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) May 11, 2023

𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐔𝐏 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐁𝐘.#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/S3ZDT4OLF4
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) May 11, 2023

One pitch after Smith's home run, Abby Wingo (Portland, Ore.) grounded a single up the middle into center field to break the single season hits record in Seton Hall history.

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙄𝙉𝙂𝙇𝙀-𝙎𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙊𝙉 𝙃𝙄𝙏𝙎 𝙌𝙐𝙀𝙀𝙉 👑

Abby Wingo has set a new single-season record with her 65th base hit of the year!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/PsBy5gfj2B
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) May 11, 2023

Abby stands alone.

Abby Wingo now owns the single-season program record for base hits in a season with 65!#HALLin🔵⚪ pic.twitter.com/wkopilP6VR
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) May 12, 2023

Notes & Numbers

The Pirates' win was their 40^th of the season, reaching the plateau for just the second time in program history.
The last time the Pirates won 40 games was in 2004, when they won 46 contest en route to the program's first ever BIG EAST title.
Smith's seven RBI set a new BIG EAST Tournament record and matched the Seton Hall single-game record.
Smith's fourth inning double was the 100^th hit of her career.
Hill recorded the first four-hit game by a Pirate since Ashly Colonnetta (Cypress, Texas) did so against Georgetown on April 16, 2022
With a win over UConn on Friday, Seton Hall would advance to Championship Saturday. A loss would mean the Pirates would play in an elimination game on Friday night at 6 p.m.