VILLANOVA, Pa. – Maranda Runco slammed a pair of homers and Elaina Wagner added three hits, including a round tripper, to help Villanova down Providence 13-5 on a rainy Sunday at the Villanova Softball Complex.
 
The Wildcats (27-24-1, 15-9 BIG EAST) completed a sweep of the Friars (22-29, 11-13 BIG EAST) in the final regular season series for both teams. Villanova secured its spot in the BIG EAST Tournament with a win on Saturday afternoon and secured the league's three seed with today's victory. The 'Cats are set to face Providence again in Wednesday's 3:00 p.m. three vs. six matchup from the Villanova Softball Complex.

Runco's two homers on the day set a BIG EAST single season home run record with 12 during conference play this season, and the sophomore tied the Villanova single season record with her 18th dinger of the season in just her first full campaign as a starter.
 
A morning downpour ended approximately 75 minutes before the 10 a.m. scheduled first pitch and the clouds remained ominous for the duration of this clash. The rain mostly stayed away until the final two innings and then began falling heavily after the Wildcats pushed across their 13^th run in the bottom half of the sixth inning, giving them an eight-run cushion and ending the contest.
 
Kat Gallant worked three scoreless frames to open the game for Villanova. The Wildcats' offense kicked into gear in the bottom half of the inning, sparked by a three run homer by Runco and a solo blast off the bat of Wagner.
 
Providence struck back in the top half of the fourth inning, with three runs, highlighted by a two run triple by Cameron Dunn.
 
After the Wildcats picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth to move on top 6-3, the Friars applied more pressure by adding a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to narrow their deficit to 6-5. A Providence win would have locked up its own berth in the BIG EAST Tournament, one day after Nova clinched its own spot in this week's event.
 
Villanova scored three times in the bottom half of the fifth to push its lead to 9-5.
 
Kelsey White took over in the circle in the top of the sixth and set the Friars down without any scoring damage. Runco got Nova going in the bottom of the frame with her second home run of the day to make it 10-5.
 
A short while later three more runs had crossed the plate, and the Wildcats could now shift their attention to this week's BIG EAST Tournament.
 
Brooklyn Ostrowski contributed a pair of hits and drove home three runners. Maddie Burrows also had two hits and a stolen base.

UP NEXT: BIG EAST Tournament play begins on Wednesday at the Villanova Softball Complex with the Wildcats set to take on Providence at 3:00 p.m. in the day's second game.