SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The series in North Jersey ended on Sunday for Villanova softball, falling 4-1 to Seton Hall in the weekend finale at Mike Sheppard Sr. Field.
Elaina Wagner reached twice for Villanova (16-16, 8-4 BIG EAST), recording the lone VU hit before the seventh inning with a double in addition to a walk. Ava Franz recorded her seventh homer of the year, scoring VU's only run with a final-frame solo shot.
Kat Gallant got the loss after four innings as the starting pitcher, striking out four with six hits and two runs allowed.
Maranda Runco was the only other Wildcat to reach base Sunday, drawing one walk in her appearances at the plate while also throwing 1.2 frames in relief. Lexi Kobryn picked up the other out for the 'Cats, entering in the sixth and retiring the only hitter she faced.
Seton Hall got the game's scoring started for the third straight day, using a second-inning solo shot to grab a 1-0 lead after two.
The Pirates threatened again in the following frame with a leadoff single and error putting a runner in scoring position right away, but a sacrifice bunt and two popouts ended SHU's opportunity.
Wagner doubled to kick off VU's hacks in the fourth and break up the no-hitter. Runco got walked on five pitches to make it two aboard, but three pieces of hard contact were tracked down for flyouts to keep the 'Cats scoreless.
Seton Hall made Villanova pay instantly, stringing together a single and double before a groundout scored one and moved the lead to 2-0. A solo shot in the fifth expanded the SHU edge, then a couple base hits in the sixth made it a 4-0 advantage.
Franz led off the seventh for the Wildcats in a big way, leaving the yard with a bomb over the wall in center to score VU's first run but it wasn't enough as the 'Cats fell 4-1 and dropped the series.
UP NEXT: Villanova has next week off from conference play, welcoming the Penn Quakers to the Main Line on Wednesday before a visit to Massachusetts at the weekend for two matchups against Boston College and a neutral site vs. Army.
