SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The comeback couldn't be completed by Villanova softball on Friday afternoon as the Wildcats fell 3-2 to Seton Hall in the opening matchup of a three-game set at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field.

Elaina Wagner totaled her first career three-hit game for Villanova (15-15, 7-3 BIG EAST), putting forth three singles and a run scored. Maranda Runco contributed a pair of knocks, adding to her team home run lead with a seventh-inning solo shot in addition to a single.

Ava Mahnken and Grace Reed each added a single of their own while Maddie Burrows walked twice and Brooklyn Ostrowski drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

The 'Cats put a runner aboard in every single inning on the day, getting Wagner singles in each of the first, third and fifth and Burrows walks in both the second and fourth but leaving eight runners on base on the day.

Kat Gallant went all six innings in the circle for Villanova, striking out three while surrendering eight hits and a trio of earned runs.

Burrows drew a walk with one out in the second to give VU a baserunner, and the very next pitch was scorched by Reed for a single to put runners on the corners. The Pirates got out of it though, throwing out a runner at the plate before a groundout ended the chance.

Seton Hall got a hold of Gallant in the fourth, using a leadoff double and one-out single for runners before a three-run homer granted the home side all they needed on a 3-0 lead.

Villanova used back-to-back singles from Wagner and Runco to get a couple aboard in their fifth-inning response, then an Ava Franz walk loaded up the bases. Ostrowski lifted a pitch into right field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Wagner and getting one back for the 'Cats in a 3-1 ballgame though that's where the damage stopped for the frame.

Gallant retired the Pirates scoreless in each of the fifth and sixth to give the hitters a chance, turning the lineup over for the seventh.

Back against the wall and down to her final strike, Runco left the yard with a one-out, full-count bomb to shrink the deficit to 3-2. But the Pirates were able to turn away the next two hitters, wrapping up the contest as a one-run VU loss.