VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova softball team opened its BIG EAST series with a run-rule of DePaul, taking down the Blue Demons 8-0 in five innings on Friday.
Kat Gallant received the win for the Wildcats after being perfect through four frames and finishing with a three-hit shutout.
Ryan Henry led the way at the dish for Villanova (27-18, 11-5 BIG EAST) with two hits and three RBI, including a three-run dinger in the first inning to set the tone for the matchup. Victoria Sebastian totaled two hits and two RBI, while Dani Dabroski reached base twice thanks to a pair of infield singles.
The Wildcats got the party started in the opening frame, with Chloe Smith lining a single into left field for the game's first hit. Ally Jones lifted a ball down the right field line that fell into play, moving Smith up to third.
Sebastian kept up her hot streak by looping a hit into shallow right field, getting Smith home to put VU on the board.
With runners on first and second, Henry blasted the first strike of her at bat out of the park for her ninth bomb of the season, granting the 'Cats a 4-0 advantage to begin the contest.
Villanova added to that edge in the fifth, loading the bases to start the stanza as Lilly St. Jean singled, Sydney Hayes was hit by a pitch and Dabroski beat out an infield single.
Tess Cites then grounded a ball that the shortstop bobbled, allowing a run to score and the 'Cats to keep the bases juiced. Smith and Jones each lifted a fly ball into the outfield for back-to-back sacrifice flies, then it was Sebastian notching her second RBI single of the day to bring VU up 8-0.
DePaul broke up Gallant's perfect game in the fifth inning with a trio of hits, loading the bases with just one down thanks to three singles.
But the freshman right-hander threw out a runner at home on a tapper back to the circle, then got a flyout to keep the Wildcats ahead by eight and induce the run rule for VU's 10th ever victory over the Blue Demons.
UP NEXT: Two more contests are set for the Villanova Softball Complex this weekend as the Wildcats will square off against DePaul at 12 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
