ATLANTA, Ga.—Junior catcher Ally Jones (Brielle, N.J.) hit her first home run of the season to right field with one out in the seventh inning of a 5-2 loss to Georgia Tech (2-0) at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field on Friday evening. Villanova (1-1) split the opening day of the season at the Buzz Classic, defeating Marshall in a dominant 9-1 effort earlier on Friday before falling in a close game in the nightcap against the tournament host Yellow Jackets.
 
Despite being held off the scoreboard until the final inning, the Wildcats nevertheless continued to show why their offense will keep them in games all year. Villanova hit home runs in each of the first two innings of its first game on Friday, then closed out the night with Jones' drive to right field. She came up with pinch runner Dani Dabroski (Cedar Grove, N.J.) at first with one away and took a 2-0 offering the other way for her ninth career home run. All eight of her previous homers came during her sophomore campaign last season, including a pair in the Tucson Regional in last year's NCAA Tournament.
 
All five of the Wildcats hits against Georgia Tech came from different batters. Jones was the lone Villanova hitter to reach base twice on the night, as she also drew a one-out walk in the second inning. She took a free pass on – what else – a full-count pitch from Yellow Jackets starter Chandler Dennis (1-0, 1.00 ERA). Jones drew 21 of her 24 walks on 3-2 pitches last season when she developed into one of the Wildcats most patient batters.
 
Senior catcher Ryan Henry (Ramsey, N.J.) singled in the game and started the year off strong by going 3-for-5 in the two games played on Friday. Villanova's pair of fifth-year players, second baseman Angela Giampolo (East Windsor, N.J.) and right fielder Paige Rauch (Windsor, N.Y.), each had hits at the top of the batting order and senior center fielder Sydney Hayes (Douglassville, Pa.) added a single.
 
Georgia Tech essentially led from start to finish after a two-run single with one out in the bottom of the first inning forged a 2-0 lead. An unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning made the score 3-0 and the Yellow Jackets extended the lead to 5-0 with a two-run home run that came with two outs in the home half of the fifth.
 
There were chances for the Wildcats to cut into the lead in the middle innings. Giampolo led off the third inning with a single but Dennis induced a 5-4-3 double play to end that inning. In the top of the fourth, Henry singled through the left side with one out but a strikeout and caught stealing double play later in the frame thwarted any chances of a Villanova rally in hat inning.
 
Senior starting pitcher Sara Kennedy (Newtown, Conn.) pitched effectively after allowing the two runs in the first inning. She scattered three hits and four walks in three innings pitched but allowed no additional damage after the opening frame. Kennedy helped herself in the bottom of the second inning by jumping high to grab a hard chopper off the bat of Ella Edgmon for the second out.
 
The snare by Kennedy was one of two sterling defensive plays the Wildcats made in the game. Sara Beth Allen hit a fly ball deep along the right field line with one out in the third inning and Rauch ranged into foul territory to make an off-balance, diving catch.
 
Freshmen pitchers Taylor Norton (Chesterfield, Va.) and Kelsey White (Taunton, Mass.) made their collegiate debuts in relief to close out the final three innings. Norton struck out the first batter she faced and wound up walking none and striking out two over two innings of work, while White stranded the bases loaded in the sixth inning to preserve a scoreless frame.
 
Villanova will be back in action on Saturday against the same two opponents it opened the Buzz Classic with. Saturday's schedule includes a 10 a.m. contest with Marshall and a rematch with Georgia Tech scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m.