BRIGHTON, Mass. – The lineup came alive for Villanova softball on Sunday afternoon as the Wildcats totaled a season-best 15 hits in an 11-2 victory over Boston College at Harrington Athletics Village.
Brooklyn Ostrowski contributed a four-hit game for Villanova (18-17-1), the first of her career and the program's first since 2023.
Ava Franz added a homer as part of a trio of hits with three runs scored and three driven in while two knocks came from both Grace Reed and Elaina Wagner (three RBI and one homer). Maranda Runco scored twice while driving in a pair of runs with a first-inning dinger.
Kat Gallant dominated in the circle with a four-hit complete game outing, striking out four in her second win of the weekend.
The Wildcats didn't take long to impact the scoreboard as Ava Mahnken rifled a ball to second base that was mishandled for a leadoff baserunner. It immediately paid dividends as Runco ripped a pitch out of the yard to the opposite field for her team-high 11th homer of the year and a 2-0 VU edge.
Reed and Madison Ostrowski each singled in their first plate appearances to give the 'Cats a pair of second-inning runners and chase the starting pitcher from the ballgame, but the reliever sent down the next two to keep the lead at a pair.
Franz got the third frame started in a big way, blasting a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left center for her eighth dinger this season and a 3-0 advantage.
Boston College took one of those runs back in the home half of the third with a solo shot of their own, but Gallant minimized the damage that inning then set the Eagles down 1-2-3 in the fourth.
Kelsey White drew a free pass to get Villanova a runner in the fifth and the older Ostrowski, Brooklyn, rewarded that with a third home run for the 'Cats on the day and a 5-1 lead.
Mahnken laced a double over the left fielder's head to kick off the sixth and Franz beat out an infield single shortly after, then intentionally got into a rundown to distract the fielders and allow Mahnken to score.
Wagner came up to the dish and smacked a pitch out to left center, clearing the wall for the team's fourth homer and an 8-1 advantage.
The 'Cats weren't done there as they added three runs on four hits in the seventh, using RBI base knocks from Franz, Wagner and B. Ostrowski for an 11-1 edge.
The Eagles hit a one-out solo homer in the seventh to draw a bit closer, but Gallant got the three outs necessary to deliver her squad an 11-2 victory and two wins on the weekend.
UP NEXT: Villanova returns to the Main Line for a four-home game week, hosting Drexel on Wednesday afternoon before welcoming DePaul for a three-game series at the weekend.
