VILLANOVA, Pa. – The opening series of BIG EAST softball came to a draw on Saturday afternoon as the Villanova Wildcats fell to Connecticut 6-3 at the VU Softball Complex to set up a grudge match in Sunday's finale.

Eight walks highlighted the box score for the lineup of Villanova (8-12, 1-1 BIG EAST) with seven different players drawing free bases including a pair by Elaina Wagner.

Maranda Runco contributed two hits and an RBI with a double, single and sacrifice fly while Ava Franz singled and reached base three times on the day with two runs scored. 

Lexi Kobryn received the loss as the starting pitcher in three-plus innings, recording a career-high five strikeouts but surrendering four runs and Kelsey White threw 3.2 frames in relief with nine batted-ball outs.

The Wildcats threatened right away in the matchup with Runco lacing a ball into left field for a two-out runner in scoring position before two walks loaded the bases but a groundout ended the chance to score in the first.

Connecticut took their first lead of the weekend in the fourth, taking advantage of a leadoff walk with a two-run homer before a pair of one-out solo shots gave a 4-0 edge.

White singled to begin the home half of that frame and Elizabeth Gray drew a two-out base on balls, though a sliding catch in foul territory kept the 'Cats off the board.

The Wildcats loaded up the bags again in the fifth, using free passes from each of Franz and Wagner before Runco singled through the left side. A wild pitch allowed Franz to cross and break the scoreless streak, then a pair of pinch-hit walks got Wagner over the plate to halve the deficit to 4-2.

Franz singled and Wagner drew another walk in the sixth to put two on, moving up on a wild pitch and Franz crossing on a Runco sacrifice fly to trail by just one at 4-3. But the 'Cats couldn't strike yet again, leaving a 10th runner on base for the day with Wagner stranded just 60 feet from tying the ballgame.

The Huskies got some insurance back in the seventh, capitalizing on a two-out error with a pair of singles scoring two unearned runs and moving the edge to 6-3.

Villanova put two balls into the outfield in their final hacks but couldn't get any runners on the basepaths, setting up a grudge match in Sunday's series finale.