COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The opening weekend of the season came to a close on Saturday for Villanova softball, suffering defeats in the final two matchups of the Aggie Classic.
Villanova (2-3) fell to a pair of ranked teams, losing 8-2 to No. 19 Baylor in an afternoon affair before an 8-0 run-rule loss at the hands of No. 7 Texas A&M in the nightcap.
GAME ONE
The first bout started out hot for the Wildcats, but stalled after the first inning and ended up as an 8-2 loss to the No. 19 Bears.
Kelsey White got her second straight start in the circle, throwing 2.2 frames and facing 15 batters for her pitching line while also belting a first-inning homer at the plate. Maranda Runco drove in the other run with an RBI single and Alexa Raphael added Villanova's only other hit.
Lexi Kobryn threw three-plus innings of relief for the 'Cats, generating the only two strikeouts VU pitchers had in Saturday's opener, while fellow first-year Sophia Mount made her career debut with a scoreless frame of work.
White struck first in the outing, going yard for the third time in as many days with a leadoff solo shot. Ava Franz and Lilly St. Jean each walked before Runco sent a single into center, scoring one and bringing the edge to 2-0 but the 'Cats couldn't tack on any more.
Baylor got those back and then some in the third, putting together a seven-hit, six-run frame to catapult their lead to 6-2 after three.
Raphael singled up the middle in the fifth for her first hit of the year and the first VU baserunner in four innings, but a pair of groundouts ended the scoring opportunity.
The Bears added another couple tallies in the next stanza with a two-run shot granting a six-score edge to the nation's No. 19 team.
Villanova got a few more tries at the plate but couldn't scratch any more across to end the game as an 8-2 loss, allowing Baylor to even the all-time series at one apiece.
GAME TWO
Runco produced at the plate in the second game with a pair of base hits, but the 'Cats couldn't get much else going in an 8-0 run-rule loss to No. 7 Texas A&M.
Kat Gallant received the loss in a three-inning start, Maddy Burns threw three batters in her second collegiate appearance and Mount delivered another three outs in relief.
Runco got VU's first hit of the nightcap, lacing a double past a diving outfielder to lead off the second but didn't advance beyond that base.
A&M started the scoring with a leadoff solo homer in the third, following it with a double and pair of singles before a two-out, three-run bomb made it a six-run inning.
Villanova put two aboard in the third on a Franz walk and another Runco knock, but couldn't get on the board and the Aggies made them pay with two more runs for an 8-0 lead.
Brooklyn Ostrowski began the fifth on a single into right field for the only other VU hit, but three quick outs ended the chance and induced the run-rule after five.
UP NEXT: Villanova heads to Boca Raton next week for the second non-conference tournament of the year, taking part in the Joan Joyce Classic with games on Feb. 14-16 at Florida Atlantic.
