MERION STATION, Pa. – Villanova softball suffered a loss in its midweek matchup, falling 3-1 to Saint Joseph's on Wednesday in a Big 5 contest at the SJU Softball Field.
Elaina Wagner was the lone player to reach base multiple times for Villanova (12-14), singling twice in the ballgame.
Maranda Runco received the loss in the circle after going five innings as the starter, striking out one and allowing just four hits and two earned runs in addition to hitting a home run at the dish for the only VU run scored. Lexi Kobryn threw one inning of relief with a backwards K on her ledger.
Runco worked out of a leadoff single in the first to keep the Hawks scoreless, then the Wildcats couldn't take advantage of a throwing error and Wagner base knock in the second.
Ava Franz walked to kick off the fourth and Wagner singled through the left side to put a pair in scoring position, but a rocket in the next VU at bat caromed right to an infielder off the pitcher for the third out.
Saint Joseph's struck first by stringing together a one-out triple and sacrifice fly for a one-run edge after four. The Hawks added to that edge in the fifth, plating two on an infield single to go up 3-0.
Runco changed that quickly to lead off the sixth, sending a ball high in the air to leave the yard and get VU on the board, though that was all the 'Cats would muster in the game.
Three Villanova players put the ball in play during the eighth inning, but none could reach base so the matchup ended as a 3-1 loss.
UP NEXT: Another three-game BIG EAST slate awaits the Wildcats this weekend, traveling a few hours south to the Washington Nationals Youth Academy for a series against the Georgetown Hoyas from Mar. 21-23.
