ViLLANOVA, Pa. — The Villanova softball team recorded its first shutout of the season in an 8-0 victory over Saint Joseph's Wednesday. 

The 'Cats (6-22) won the game via run-rule in five innings with a Grace Reed two-run single in the bottom of the eighth being the difference. 

Carly Zych (W, 2-1)  picked up her fifth start of the season, pitching a shutout, five-inning complete game, striking out two and walking one. Zych also went 0-2 at the plate with a walk and a run. 

St. Joe's (10-13) kept VU off the board early as the first and second innings ended scoreless. 

Villanova broke through in the bottom of the third after a Mackenzie Waghorn walk and back-to-back singles by Jacquelyn Cox and Maddie Burrows loaded the bases for Maranda Runco, who launched a grand slam off the foul pole to give the 'Cats a 4-0 lead. 

The home run was Runco's sixth of the season and 27th of her career, moving her into 6th all-time in program home run leaders. The junior is tied with Kari Koller. 

Lexi Kobryn followed Runco's home run with one of her own to make it a 5-0 game. Kobryn has now hit two home runs on the season and is tied for the RBI lead on the team with Runco at 18. 

A scoreless fourth led to the ultimate inning of the contest, the fifth, and saw Zych keep the Hawks off the board in the top half to complete her scoreless performance in the circle. 

After a Runco walk, she was pinch-run for by Elizabeth Gray, who scored on an error on a Kobryn grounder to third in the next at-bat. Pinch-hitter Katie Reed then grounded into a fielder's choice before Zych walked and put the winning runs aboard. 

A wild pitch advanced both runs into scoring position before Grace blooped a single into centerfield to close the contest in five innings. 

Up Next

Villanova continues BIG EAST play with a trip to Omaha, Neb. to take on Creighton in a three-game set Friday to Sunday.