SALEM, Va. – Villanova softball split its opening day at the Hokie Invite, taking one of two from No. 15 Virginia Tech in a Friday doubleheader.
The game two victory marked a second Top 25 win of the year for Villanova (6-9), who took revenge after a game one loss to VT to begin the stay in Salem.
GAME ONE
The first matchup saw the Hokies flexing their muscles, belting eight home runs in an 18-2 five-inning victory over the Wildcats.
Brooklyn Ostrowski and Elaina Wagner each totaled a pair of hits in the first contest with Jaclyn Morra adding the lone other knock for Villanova.
Five pitchers threw in the opening outing for the Wildcats, Lexi Kobryn receiving the loss as the starter. Maranda Runco threw one full inning while Maddy Burns (first-career Ks with two strikeouts) and Sophia Mount each gave VU less than a frame in the circle.
Virginia Tech broke the contest open in their second-inning hacks, using three homers, three other hits and a trio of walks to get out to an 8-0 edge.
The Hokies added a five-spot in both the third and fourth, but Villanova added their first two runs of the game on singles by Ostrowski, Morra and Wagner to make it an 18-2 game.
Villanova put a pair of runners aboard in their final opportunity on two leadoff walks, but couldn't get them across the plate so the run rule was invoked and the game ended in the fifth.
GAME TWO
Villanova turned the tides in game two at the Hokie Invite, striking first then bending but not breaking en route to a 7-6 win over the nation's No. 15 team.
Mackenzie Waghorn came through for the Wildcats in just her sixth career start behind the dish, recording her first collegiate hit on a second-frame knock before a third-inning grand slam turned out to be the game-winning hit.
Kat Gallant delivered a complete-game victory in the circle, striking out two while inducing 14 flyouts on the afternoon.
Wagner (second-inning homer) and Elizabeth Gray (two walks) each scored twice for VU and Ava Franz drove home two runs.
The 'Cats kicked off the game two scoring in the second inning with Wagner belting her first dinger of the year on a solo shot to left center. A Gray walk and Waghorn single put two runners on before Franz lifted a triple into right, granting VU a 3-0 edge.
Villanova used everything possible to put runners aboard in the third as a hit by pitch, single, fielder's choice and walk loaded up the bags with two outs. Waghorn came through in a huge way, sending one out of the park to the opposite field for a grand slam and 7-0 advantage.
Virginia Tech took one back in the ensuing frame with a solo shot of their own, then added three in the fifth and two in the sixth but Gallant did enough to keep her side ahead 7-6.
The 'Cats went down quietly in the seventh and it was all up to the junior right-hander from Connecticut, who got three batted-ball outs to end the bout as a 7-6 Wildcat win.
UP NEXT: Villanova will compete in a pair of neutral site games on Saturday, squaring off against Robert Morris (at 12:30 p.m.) and Radford (3:00 p.m.) in the afternoon at Moyer Sports Complex.
