BOCA RATON, Fla. – Villanova softball picked up its second straight win and drew back to .500 on the season on Saturday, outlasting the Minnesota Golden Gophers 10-8 at the Joan Joyce Classic.

It was a dominant day at the plate for the top of Villanova's lineup, with each of the first four hitters in the order having multi-hit days for the Wildcats (4-4).

Maranda Runco led VU's 10-hit afternoon with three on the day, totaling three RBI with one coming on a run-scoring double. Ava Franz, Kelsey White and Jaclyn Morra each contributed a pair of hits and Brooklyn Ostrowski scored two runs for Villanova, as did Franz and Morra.

Freshman Ava Mahnken delivered the final blow for the 'Cats, blasting a three-run bomb in the fifth frame to break a deadlock with her first collegiate home run for a four-RBI outing.

Kelsey White went four innings in the circle as the starter, striking out one and inducing 10 batted-ball outs. Sophia Mount threw to three batters before Kat Gallant came on in relief, with #9 striking out four and receiving the win in a trio of innings pitched.

Minnesota started the game's scoring right away, knocking a one-out homer out of the park in the opening frame for a 1-0 lead. 

But the Wildcats responded right away in their first chances, stringing together singles from Franz, White and Runco to even the game before a fielder's choice gave the 'Cats a 2-1 edge.

Villanova blew it open in the third as Franz singled, White doubled and Morra singled Franz in before Runco belted a double into left center to bring home the other two. An Ostrowski walk gave VU another baserunner, and a Mahnken sacrifice fly plus a Minnesota throwing error brought the score to 7-1.

The Golden Gophers used their own sac fly to get one back in the fourth then evened the score up in the fifth, using a three-run homer and three singles for a five-run inning and 7-7 ballgame.

It wouldn't take long for the Wildcats to answer as a Runco leadoff single and a pair of fielder's choices put two on for Mahnken, who blasted a no-doubter for her first college dinger out to center for a 10-7 edge.

Gallant worked out of a two-out single in the sixth and minimized the damage in the seventh, surrendering one run but stranding the bases loaded to deliver her side a 10-8 victory over a Big Ten foe.