AUBURN, Ala. – Villanova's softball team wrapped up a trip to the Auburn University Tiger Invitational with a loss, falling to the University of Dayton 11-3 on Sunday afternoon.
Elaina Wagner and Madison Ostrowski each recorded their first career doubles and RBIs in the fifth inning, delivering VU's only runs of the game.
Kelsey White received the loss for Villanova (4-6) after allowing one earned run in two-plus innings. Peyton Schnackenberg (one-plus inning, three strikeouts) and Alyssa Seidler (one inning) both appeared in relief.
Tess Cites kicked off the ballgame with a double to left center field and Ally Jones drew a one-out walk, but the 'Cats could not get any runs across in the opening frame.
Villanova threatened again in the second stanza, as Lilly St. Jean and Schnackenberg each worked walks and got into scoring position, but VU still couldn't break the scoreless tie.
Dayton got the scoring started in the third inning as an error and single got runners aboard, then a sacrifice fly, double and another single brought three runs home.
The Flyers broke the game open in the fourth frame as a leadoff double and an error put baserunners on, then a groundout and single scored the two. UD then brought more runs home on a three-run homer to left center, making the score 8-0.
The 'Cats got more runners aboard in their half of the fourth, but a Cites fly ball was tracked down by the left field line to end the chance.
Ava Franz began the fifth inning by reaching on an error, then Jones rifled one past the third baseman for her first hit of the game. Wagner then lifted a ball over the left fielder's head for a double, scoring Franz.
Freshman Madi Ostrowski came to the plate and delivered her first collegiate hit, scoring both Jones and Wagner to bring the score to 11-3. The 'Cats had runners in scoring position, but could not score any more to stave off the eight-run rule.
The loss means a split in the weekend and all-time series for Dayton and the Wildcats, as both teams came away 1-1.
UP NEXT: Villanova will travel to Boca Raton, Fla., to take part in FAU's Joan Joyce Classic from Feb. 24-26.
