CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Three different batters delivered run-scoring singles within a span of four plate appearances in the top of the sixth inning as Villanova (7-11) made a late comeback bid, but an early deficit was eventually too much for the Wildcats to overcome in a 9-4 loss to Charlotte (15-3) in the Queen City Classic on Friday afternoon. It was the second game of the day for Villanova, which had only a short turnaround after falling in eight innings to Maryland, 2-1, in their first game of the weekend.
 
Graduate second baseman Angela Giampolo (East Windsor, N.J.) and senior designated player Ryan Henry (Ramsey, N.J.) had two hits apiece for the Wildcats, who rapped out eight hits in the contest and scored all four of their runs in the sixth inning. Villanova trailed 7-0 before pulling to within 7-4 in its penultimate turn at the plate, but the tournament host 49ers got two runs back in the home half of the sixth to put the game out of reach.
 
There were bases loaded and nobody out for the Wildcats in the top of the sixth inning to set up the chance for a big rally. Graduate right fielder Paige Rauch (Windsor, N.Y.) led off with a single which was followed by consecutive walks to senior shortstop Megan Kern (Royersford, Pa.) and sophomore pitcher Alyssa Seidler (West Babylon, N.Y.). With one out and the bases still loaded, freshman pinch hitter Ava Franz (Aston, Pa.) fouled off two straight pitches before singling to center field to score the first Villanova run of the game.
 
It was still a 7-1 deficit with two outs in the inning, but Giampolo plated two more runs with a single to center field and junior third baseman Chloe Smith (Sacramento, Calif.) singled to center for the fourth run of the inning. All four hits for Villanova during the rally came with two strikes against Charlotte relief pitcher Maddux Hughes.
 
There was nothing doing in the first five innings for the Wildcats against 49ers starter Lindsey Walljasper (6-1), who went to right field with a seven-run lead in the sixth inning but returned to the circle to record the final three outs of the game. Walljasper gave up just four hits while striking out seven in six innings.
 
On the pitching side for Villanova, freshman Kelsey White (Taunton, Mass.) started in the circle and Seidler came in to make the longest appearance of her collegiate career. She worked five innings while walking three and striking out four in relief of White (2-4), who was charged with four runs (three earned) in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Charlotte took the lead on a two-run triple by cleanup hitter Stacy Payton in the home half of the first, and eventually led 5-0 after two innings and 7-0 following two runs scored in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Villanova will face Maryland for the second time this weekend in a 1:30 p.m. game on Saturday afternoon.