WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite a slow start on Friday at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy, Villanova softball picked up a fourth straight win in BIG EAST play with an 11-3 run rule victory in the series opener at Georgetown.

Maddie Burrows contributed the first multi-homer game of the season for Villanova (13-14, 5-2 BIG EAST), blasting her second and third dingers of the year for a five-RBI effort in the nation's capital.

Elizabeth Gray singled and scored twice, Ava Franz drove home three runs with a pair of base knocks and Elaina Wagner added a two-RBI double on the afternoon.

Kat Gallant picked up the win after five innings as the starter in the circle, striking out three and surrendering just five hits. Dual threat option Maranda Runco threw a three-up, three-down final inning on Friday in addition to walking three times in her plate appearances.

Georgetown got the game's scoring started in a hurry, loading the bases immediately in the first before a no-out double drove in a pair for a 2-0 game before any outs were recorded. But Gallant responded strong, stranding two runners in scoring position with three batted-ball outs to keep the deficit at a pair of runs.

Gray reached on a throwing error to kick off the visiting half of the third, getting to second before a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases. Wagner laced a double off the wall to score two and tie it, Brooklyn Ostrowski lifted a sacrifice fly to center to take the lead and Burrows went yard to the opposite field to make it a five-run inning and 5-2 edge.

Ava Mahnken and Gray both beat out infield singles to open the fourth, then a Runco walk and Franz groundout moved the advantage to 6-2.

The Hoyas took that run back in their next hacks on a solo shot, turning the game into a three-run difference.

Gray beat the throw to first on another infield single in the sixth and Runco earned a free pass again, then Franz drove both in on an RBI base knock for an 8-3 lead. After a hit by pitch extended the inning, Burrows blasted another one out of the park for a three-run bomb, another five-score inning and 11-3 lead. 

Runco came on for the home half of that frame and retired all three Hoyas, delivering a run-rule victory in six innings.