VILLANOVA, Pa. — The Villanova softball team won the opening game of a three-game set versus Georgetown 6-5 Friday at the VU Softball Complex in 11 innings. 

Grace Reed hit the first walk-off home run of her career in the bottom of the 11th inning, a two-run shot to close the contest. 

The game was the longest inning-wise for the 'Cats (7-26,3-7 BIG EAST) since March 26, 2023 against Delaware, another contest which saw 11 innings and saw VU win 5-3.

Maggie King, who was scored a no-decision, started the contest, pitching five innings, striking out one, walking three and giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits. 

Georgetown (9-12, 2-5) struck first, scoring three in the top of the first. 

The Hoyas struck again in the third to go up 4-0 before Villanova responded with a Madison Ostrowski RBI double to make it a 4-1 contest. 

The 'Cats kept the momentum going in the fourth, making it 4-2 on a Lilly St. Jean single that scored Ava Mahnken. 

VU tied the game in the fifth on a Lexi Kobryn RBI single followed by a Katie Reed RBI groundout to bring across Elizabeth Gray as the tying run to make it 4-4. 

Two relief pitchers in Kobryn (W, 2-8) and Georgetown's Emily Collins kept the game scoreless for five innings. 

A Hoyas home run in the top of the 11th broke the tie, giving Georgetown a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 11th. 

With a new pitcher, Marina Egbert (L, 2-2), in the circle, Villanova gained momentum on a one-out Kendall Spivey single. 

Grace stepped in with two outs and swung at Egbert's first pitch sending it over the left field wall to give VU the 6-5 win. 

Kobryn scored the win, pitching six innings in relief, striking out two, walking one and surrendering one run on eight hits. 

Up Next

Villanova continues the series against Georgetown Saturday at 1 p.m. The 'Cats will look to capture their second BIG EAST series win of the season.