Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Villanova softball team split their games on the opening day of the UVA Party at Palmer Invitational in Charlottesville, Virginia Friday.

The 'Cats (1-16) picked up their first win of the season versus Bucknell (1-9) to end the night, winning 8-7 in walk-off fashion. 

Prior to the contest with the Bison, Villanova played Michigan (13-4) to begin the day's proceedings, losing 7-0. 

Kat Gallant (L, 0-6) started for VU, pitching six innings, striking out two, walking two and giving up five runs on six hits. 

Gallant threw five shutout innings before a five-run sixth inning by the Wolverines. 

Notably at the plate for the 'Cats, Katie Reed hit her third double of the season, which leads the team. 

Maggie King came on in relief for the 'Cats to pitch the seventh, giving up two runs on two hits and walking one. 

Carly Zych, who was scored a no-decision, picked up the start against Bucknell, pitching 2 1/3, walking two, striking out one and giving up three runs on five hits. 

VU's offense got off to an early start, scoring two in the first inning via Reed's second home run of her freshman campaign. 

The 'Cats scored another two on a Maddie Burrows two-run double in the bottom of the second. 

The Bison responded in the top of the third, scoring three runs on Zych before Lexi Kobryn (W, 1-5) entered and got the final outs via an F9-4-2-5 double play to end the inning. 

Kobryn would keep the score 4-3 until the top of the sixth, when Bucknell tied the game on a wild pitch. 

Villanova quickly retook the lead courtesy of a two-run home run for Madison Ostrowski to give the 'Cats a 6-4 advantage. The home run was the second of the senior's career and first since 2024, her sophomore year.

Needing two runs to keep the game going, the Bison scored three on a bases-clearing double to take a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh. 

A one-out walk for Maranda Runco brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh before Lilly St. Jean singled to put runners at the corners for Kobryn, who was in line for the loss. 

With both winning runs on-base, Kobryn doubled to deep center field, scoring St. Jean and a pinch-running Kendall Spivey to give the 'Cats their first win of the season. In addition to giving herself the pitching win, Kobryn hit her second double of the season and third of her career. 

The tying and winning runs were the first RBIs of Kobryn's career. 

Up Next

Villanova continues the weekend in Charlottesville Saturday with a rematch against the Bison at 1:30 p.m. before facing off against hosts Virginia (16-1) at 4:30 p.m. to close the day.