STORRS, Conn. – Villanova softball kept up its winning ways in BIG EAST play, taking down the Connecticut Huskies 3-1 at Burrill Family Field on Friday afternoon.

Brooklyn Ostrowski provided the game-winning hit for Villanova (26-19, 17-2 BIG EAST) with a two-run base knock in the fourth while Tess Cites provided a critical insurance run with a solo shot in the fifth. 

Elaina Wagner and Elizabeth Gray each added singles in the game as Chloe Smith earned a pair of free passes on the day.

Alyssa Seidler twirled a beauty in her start, striking out 10 batters with just two hits and one run allowed through six innings of work to earn the win. Caroline Pellicano retired all three batters she faced, picking up her 14th career save to tie the Villanova record.

Connecticut threatened in the opening frame with a leadoff single, stolen base and a two-out walk putting runners on the corners, but Seidler worked out of it with a swinging K.

The Huskies struck first with small ball in the second frame, drawing a leadoff walk then getting them on the corners with a sac bunt plus an error. A double steal scored the game's opening tally, but Seidler avoided any further damage with two groundouts and a strikeout.

Villanova put ducks on the pond in the fourth inning in a non-traditional manner as Wagner reached on an overthrow and Ava Franz earned a base on balls before Smith got hit by a pitch to load them up. 

Ostrowski came up big with the first hit of the day for the Wildcats, lasering one past third base to score Wagner and Franz and put the 'Cats ahead 2-1.

Cites expanded that edge in the next frame, rocketing the second strike of her at bat over the wall in left for her ninth homer this season and a two-run lead. Wagner followed it up with a first-pitch single, but a double play ended the chance for more runs.

Seidler surrendered just her second hit of the game on a leadoff base knock in the fifth, but the right-hander mowed down the 2-3-4 hitters in the order to remain ahead by a couple.

The 'Cats couldn't add to the lead despite free passes for Lilly St. Jean and Smith in the sixth and an infield single from Gray in the seventh, meaning it was up to senior hurler Pellicano.

The Pennsylvania native delivered as usual, looking calm and collected as she retired all three of her opponents in order for a massive game one victory.