TOWSON, Md.—Senior shortstop Julia DaCosta (North Attleboro, Mass.) and junior third baseman Megan Kern (Royersford, Pa.) each homered in the first game of a doubleheader as Villanova (7-7) slugged its way past Towson (7-4) in a 5-2 victory at Tiger Softball Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The second game of the day was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. as the teams meet for the 22^nd and 23^rd times in the all-time series.
 
DaCosta was 3-for-3 and drove in three runs for the Wildcats, who had at least one hit in every inning and outhit the Tigers by an 11-6 margin. Kern and sophomore left fielder Dani Dabroski (Cedar Grove, N.J.) had two hits apiece and Villanova put the game away in the final two innings with a pair of home runs. The power potential in the Wildcats lineup continues to be everything as advertised, with Villanova how having hit 19 home runs in its 14 games played.
 
Senior starting pitcher Paige Rauch (Windsor, N.Y.) won her fourth straight decision with the six-hitter. She gave up one earned run and walked two while striking out six in her fourth consecutive complete game start. Rauch (4-2, 4.07 ERA) saw a scoreless streak of 20.2 IP snapped in the bottom of the third inning when Towson tied the score at 1-1, but the Wildcats went back in front to stay in the top of the fourth.
 
Villanova led 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning when sophomore catcher Ally Jones (Brielle, N.J.) drew a leadoff walk and DaCosta followed with her third home run of the season and the 16^th of her collegiate career on a blast to right-center. Kern hit a solo shot in the seventh inning, her second of the season, and the extra insurance for the Wildcats in the final two innings made the solo home run hit by Towson with two outs in the bottom of the seventh a mere footnote.
 
Both teams scored a single run in their half of the third inning to open the scoring. Dabroski beat out an infield hit to lead off the top of the third and senior second baseman Angela Giampolo (East Windsor, N.J.) singled to center. The runners were at second and third with one away when Kern lined a single to center to bring home Dabroski with the game's first run. Kern is batting .500 (12-for-24) with three doubles and two home runs during a current seven-game hitting streak.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, Tigers leadoff batter Julia Jackson drew a one-out walk and Mackenzie Lake singled. Rauch struck Nicole Kidwiler for the second out, but then Chloe Poulich reached on the second infield single of the inning and Jackson came around to score the tying run. A wild pitch advanced runners to second and third in the inning, but Rauch got Lauren Ringhiser to pop up to short to end the inning.
 
Villanova took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Jones singled to left with one out and DaCosta followed with an RBI double to center to drive home junior Sydney Hayes (Douglassville, Pa.) who was running for Jones.
 
Jackson started on the mound for Towson and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. She walked three and struck out three. Lake, Poulich and Maydson Peters had two hits apiece for the Tigers.
 
NOTES: Villanova evened its record at .500 for the first time this season … The team has won seven of its last eight after an 0-6 start … The scoreless streak of 20.2 innings pitched by Rauch is one of 18 scoreless streaks of at least 20 innings in program history … It is also a career-long streak for Rauch, whose previous longest streak was 19.1 innings over three appearances in 2019 … Rauch pitched consecutive complete game shutouts against George Washington and Hofstra last week … Her 23^rd complete game in a Wildcats uniform ties her for 14^th place in school history … DaCosta's 16^th career home run puts her solely in 16^th place in the Villanova record book … Villanova leads the all-time series with Towson by a 14-8 margin … The series has often been a good one between the teams, with 10 of the 22 meetings decided by one run.