VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova softball kicked off BIG EAST play with a bang on Friday afternoon, run-ruling the Connecticut Huskies 10-2 in six innings on Friday to open the conference calendar.
Every starter reached base in the ballgame for Villanova (8-11, 1-0 BIG EAST), led by a three-hit, two-RBI day from Maranda Runco with a homer and a double.
Elaina Wagner drove home a trio of runs while reaching base three times as Madison Ostrowski added a pair of RBI on a two-run double to start the game's scoring.
Jaclyn Morra was the lone player to score twice in the outing while Kelsey White reached every time she came to the dish in the game, beating out an infield single in addition to two walks and a hit by pitch.
Kat Gallant threw a complete game in the circle, striking out five with just one walk and four hits allowed in six innings pitched.
The Wildcats got the scoring started in the second, putting runners on every way possible as White started with a leadoff walk before a Jaclyn Morra single and Maddie Burrows sacrifice bunt earned two in scoring position.
Madi Ostrowski delivered by lacing a double to the wall in right center for a two-RBI two-bagger, getting VU ahead 2-0.
It wouldn't take long for the 'Cats to add to that edge as Runco blasted one out of the yard to open the third, giving Villanova its first dinger at home this year and a 3-0 advantage.
Connecticut answered with a solo shot of their own in the fourth to break up Gallant's no-hitter, lessening the deficit to two.
With Brooklyn Ostrowski working a two-out walk in the home half of that frame, it was Runco pulling through again by tattooing a double off the corner wall in right to score Ostrowski from first and move the lead to 4-1.
Villanova added to that edge in the fifth as Burrows walked and an error plus a fielder's choice got runners to the corners with two down, at which point Wagner lifted one off the wall to score two and get the edge to 6-1.
UConn took one back in their half on a pair of leadoff hits before a sacrifice fly brought one home, but Gallant stranded a runner on third with her fifth punchout to keep it at 6-2.
Some small ball helped the Wildcats to score for the fifth straight inning in the sixth with Runco's third hit plus an HBP, wild pitch and throwing error plating the first one. Franz and Wagner worked two-out, bases-loaded walks to each score another.
The Huskies brought in a new pitcher with the bases still loaded and the 'Cats walked it off one pitch later, Ava Mahnken crossing the plate on a wild pitch to induce the run-rule at a 10-2 Wildcat victory.
UP NEXT: Two more games await in the conference-opening series with the Wildcats taking on Connecticut at 1:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at the Villanova Softball Complex.
