BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The non-conference schedule comes to a close for Villanova softball (24-23-1) on Wednesday with a Keystone State rivalry as the Wildcats head to Leadership Park for a 3:30 p.m. battle against Lehigh.

MEETING THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS    
The final non-conference bout of the regular season sends the Wildcats about an hour north for a Wednesday contest in Bethlehem against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks. Villanova owns a nine-game edge in the all-time series with 30 wins all-time over Lehigh, though the Mountain Hawks took the most recent matchup in the series. Since Orchard's arrival as the VU head coach, the 'Cats have squared off with Lehigh three times: once in 2019 and then in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024. Kelsey White reached four times in a 2023 12-1 win with two hits and three RBI while striking out four in five innings of work in the circle. Ava Franz drew three walks in 2023 and doubled twice in a 2-0 2024 loss.

ROLLERCOASTER OF RESULTS    
It was an up and down penultimate week of the regular season for the Wildcats, who scored a season-high 16 times in a run-rule victory over Towson on Tuesday afternoon before being swept at St. John's over the weekend. Villanova used a 13-hit performance to overpower the Tigers at the VU Softball Complex in the midweek, utilizing an 11-run, three-homer third frame to move to a 16-0 victory. Grace Reed contributed her first ever two-homer game for the 'Cats, hitting a pair of dingers in the third inning for a five-RBI outing. The weekend was difficult for the Wildcats, who battled through 16 strikeouts in Friday's opening matchup for a tie game in the sixth but ended up falling 3-1. The Johnnies jumped all over VU in the second half of Friday's doubleheader despite Villanova scoring first, then a five-run SJU inning in Sunday's finale granted the Red Storm a sweep and left Villanova in need of wins this weekend for a tourney berth.

LEARN ABOUT LEHIGH

• The Mountain Hawks own a 25-22 record in their 2025 slate, racking up a 13-5 record in conference play to secure a berth in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament. Lehigh has the final week off from PL play, instead playing Mount St. Mary's in a Saturday non-conference doubleheader to round out the regular season.
• NFCA Freshman of the Year candidate Kelly Fricker leads the way for the lineup with a .432 average, 70 hits and 36 runs. Maddy Schmeiser adds a .385 average, Julia Mrochko contributes 17 doubles and Rory Dudley leads the squad with 37 runs batted in and five of the team's 10 homers.
• Former All-Patriot League selection Chloe Hess spearheads the pitching staff at 114.1 innings and 67 strikeouts and first-year Madison Finnerty adds a staff-high 26 appearances, 12 wins and a .278 BAA while Maria Urban and Maddy Clark each have 18 appearances under their belt.

The matchup will stream on ESPN+ with statistics courtesy of Lehigh's Sidearm site.