ATLANTA, Ga. – Villanova softball wrapped up its first day of competition in 2024, suffering a 3-0 loss to the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide in the nightcap of the Buzz Classic on Thursday.

Caroline Pellicano picked up the loss in a complete game effort for Villanova (0-2), striking out six and surrendering just five hits on the day to the 11th ranked team in the nation. The senior finished the bout on a high note, setting down nine in a row to close out the matchup and allowing runs in only one frame.

The Eagleville, Pennsylvania, native tied her career high in innings pitched with six frames in her first start since her sophomore year and set a new career best for strikeouts, which she'd previously earned with five against Connecticut in May of 2022.

After a hitless first inning on both sides, Ally Jones became the game's opening base runner with a leadoff walk in the second frame but couldn't advance beyond the first base bag. 

Alabama took hold of the bout in the home half of that stanza, generating three runs on four hits. Pellicano was able to avoid any further damage by inducing a swinging strikeout with the bases loaded to keep the score at 3-0.

From there, it was entirely a pitchers' duel as Pellicano recorded three flawless innings to close out her stint in the ballgame and Alabama's hurler didn't allow a runner after Jones' walk to lead off the second.

Kayla Beaver ended up tossing a no-hitter for Alabama, striking out 14 in her first appearance with the Crimson Tide.

Thursday's bout marked the first ever matchup between the two schools and just VU's 26th against members of the SEC.

UP NEXT: Villanova will take part in a pair of contests again on Saturday, facing Longwood at 1:30 PM before a rematch with the host Yellow Jackets slated for 6:30 in Atlanta.