VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova softball picked up a run-rule victory in its midweek matchup, taking down the Drexel Dragons 12-0 in five innings on Wednesday afternoon at the Villanova Softball Complex.
A quartet of players totaled multi-hit games for Villanova (19-17-1), led by Brooklyn Ostrowski's two-hit, five-RBI game with a two-run homer while Kelsey White belted a grand slam for a four-RBI day.
Ava Franz scored three times on a pair of hits as Ava Mahnken (2-for-2, two runs), Elaina Wagner (two runs, on base twice) and Maddie Burrows (two hits, one run) all had strong showings at the plate.
Lexi Kobryn twirled a gem in the circle through four innings, striking out three and allowing just one hit in her seventh win of the year. Maddy Burns threw the final stanza for the Wildcats, striking out one and surrendering just a single baserunner.
After Kobryn retired the Dragons 1-2-3 to open the ballgame, Mahnken reached base right away for the Wildcats on a four-pitch walk, moved up to second on a groundout and came home when Franz roped a double over the right fielder for an early 1-0 edge.
A tough-luck lineout from Wagner made it two outs, but Ostrowski made sure the scoring didn't end there as the redshirt senior belted a no-doubter out to left for a two-run dinger and 3-0 lead after one.
Burrows singled through the left side to give Villanova a one-out baserunner in the second and advanced to second on an error before a Mahnken two-out double granted Villanova a 4-0 advantage.
Franz reached on an error to start the third and Wagner hit a ball on the screws shortly after for a double and two in scoring position. Ostrowski stayed hot by ripping a two-bagger down the third base line, scoring both runners and turning it into a 6-0 ballgame after three.
The Wildcats loaded the bases with two down in the fourth on Mahnken and Franz singles, then walks from Wagner and Ostrowski scored the first before White teed off and cleared the bases with a grand slam.
Grace Reed and Burrows each singled before Madison Ostrowski scorched a double over the left fielder's head to score a run and get VU up 12 through four.
Burns came on in the circle and worked around a two-out walk, inducing a flyout to end the game in five innings as a 12-0 Wildcat win.
UP NEXT: The 'Cats will return to BIG EAST play this weekend, hosting the DePaul Blue Demons for a three-game series from Apr. 11-13 at the Villanova Softball Complex.
