VILLANOVA, Pa. – Paige Rauch tossed her seventh shutout of the season to lead the Villanova Wildcats past Drexel 2-0 in Game 1 of a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday at the Villanova Softball Complex.
 
Rauch tossed seven innings of three hit softball to raise her season record to 12-2 and drop her earned run average to 2.47.
 
The Wildcats scored single runs in the bottom of the first and fourth innings. The first run was plated on an RBI single by Chloe Smith and the second came courtesy of a bases loaded infield single by Angela Giampolo. Brooklyn Ostrowski registered a double in her only plate appearance in Game 1.
 
Rauch did not allow a hit to any of the top five hitters in the Drexel (15-4) lineup.
 
Villanova (19-10 overall, 4-1 BIG EAST) generated eight hits in the contest including three from Smith and two by Giampolo.
 
Olivia Ferris took the loss for Drexel, pitching 3.1 innings before giving way to Lindsay Nelson and Meghan Conroy.