VILLANOVA, Pa. – Back-to-back three-run innings aided Villanova Softball in picking up an 8-0 victory over Providence in five innings on Friday at the Villanova Softball Complex.

Elaina Wagner and Madison Ostrowski accounted for half of the runs that Villanova (25-24-1, 13-9 BIG EAST) brought across in the win, logging two RBI each. Both Kelsey White and Maranda Runco launched homers to set the program's new single season high with 60 long balls on the year while Grace Reed legged out a triple for the other extra-base hit of the day. White went 2-for-2 from the plate while Ostrowski and Reed both went 2-for-3 as the lone 'Cats with multiple hits on the day.

While the Wildcats' bats were hot with nine hits, their defense was just as strong, holding Providence (22-27, 11-11 BIG EAST) to just three hits. Kat Gallant moved to 12-9 in the circle with the win, going the distance with a strikeout along the way.

Both sides opened the contest with players getting aboard but being left stranded. The 'Cats sent the Friars down in order on a pop up, a fly out and a strikeout in the top of the second before the scoring opened up for the Blue and White.

Reed put Villanova on the board in the bottom of the frame with a triple to right center to score White. A little later, she crossed home thanks to a single through the left side form Madison Ostrowski to make it a 2-0 Villanova lead.

Rachel Petrarca put down a bunt for Providence's first hit to open the third, but a lineout and a double play kept the Friars off the board.

The bottom of the third started with fireworks from Runco, slamming a rocket to center field for her 15^th longball of the year to extend Villanova's lead, 3-0. With two outs on the board, White followed suit, hitting a homer over the left field wall for a 4-0 lead. Reed picked up a two-out single to short and was later brought home on a Madison Ostrowski knock up the middle for a 5-0 advantage.

Elisa Smith opened the fourth with a single through the left side but the 'Cats sat the Friars down in order after that to leave her stranded.

Ava Mahnken and Runco made their way on base via a single and a walk to start the bottom of the fourth with Kendall Spivey coming in to run for Runco. Ava Franz was shown a five-pitch walk to make her way to first and load up the bases for Wagner. The senior laced a single up the middle to score Mahnken and Spivey and push the lead out to 7-0. With runners on second and third, Madison Ostrowski reached on a fielding error by the second baseman to score Franz for the final run of the day at 8-0.

Providence had another lead-off single in the frame with Julia Renny hitting a look toward the circle, but a fly out, a pair of groundouts closed up the series-opening win for the 'Cats.

UP NEXT: Game two of the series comes on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. as the Wildcats celebrate Senior Day at the Villanova Softball Complex.