VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova softball captured a W in its midweek bout on Wednesday afternoon, taking down Monmouth 10-5 at the Villanova Softball Complex.
Senior outfielder Kelsey White led the way for Villanova (9-13) with a pair of doubles, scoring and driving in a run on the day. Brooklyn Ostrowski hit a two-run homer and Elaina Wagner scored twice while driving in two runs with her first career triple.
Maranda Runco totaled two hits and scored twice at the plate in addition to picking up her first career win in the circle with a staff-high three innings and two strikeouts.
Maddy Burns received her first start for the Wildcats, tossing two frames and holding the Hawks to a run as Sophia Mount went two stanzas of relief in the circle.
Monmouth struck first in the ballgame, using a pair of walks, a sacrifice bunt and RBI single to get one across but Burns induced two batted-ball outs to minimize the damage to 1-0.
It wouldn't take the 'Cats long to get that back as Ava Franz walked and Runco singled for a pair of runners, then a wild pitch and Wagner grounder brought both home. White followed by blistering a double off the wall in left to score Wagner from first and grant VU a 3-1 edge after one.
The Villanova lineup took off in the third inning, teeing off for a team cycle in the frame before any outs were even recorded. Runco ripped a two-bagger before Ostrowski blasted one out of the yard to left for a two-run dinger and 5-1 lead.
Grace Reed followed with a single and it was Wagner completing the team's cycle with an RBI triple, then White walked to force a pitching change. Jaclyn Morra laced a two-run scoring three-bagger of her own, and the 'Cats added two more runs on three walks for a 10-1 advantage after three.
The Hawks took two back in each of the following frames, using three bases on balls and a two-out two-RBI double to make it a seven-run affair after four before a four-hit fifth brought it to 10-5.
But from there it remained scoreless, Runco retiring the Hawks in order in the sixth and working around a two-out seventh inning single to deliver the victory.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats remain at the Villanova Softball Complex this weekend, welcoming in the Creighton Bluejays for a three-game BIG EAST series from Mar. 14-16.
