This past weekend, Villanova softball hosted Butler (10-9, 3-0 Big East) in its first home competition of the season. The Wildcats (5-22, 2-4 Big East) went 0-3 against the Bulldogs, bringing their attempt to stretch a one-game winning streak to a halt.
The games began on Friday, March 13, and the Bulldogs won the opener, 6-2. Senior pitcher Kat Gallant started on the mound for Villanova and struck out three over five innings.
In the first inning, Butler scored three runs, but Villanova narrowed the margin to 3-1 on an RBI double by junior pitcher Maranda Runco.
Runco hit her fifth home run of the season in the third inning, which moved her into a tie for seventh all-time in program history with 26.
“That’s just obviously credit to Maranda because of how good she is,” head coach Bridget Orchard said. “We need to make sure whoever’s hitting will drive her in, and then they’ll have to stop walking her if we hit behind her.”
In the fifth inning, the Bulldogs scored two more runs before scoring an additional run in the sixth. Although Villanova loaded the bases in the seventh inning with singles from senior second base Maddie Burrows, freshman outfielder Jacquelyn Cox and freshman infielder/outfielder Katie Reed, the Wildcats were unable to score again.
The Wildcats fell to the Bulldogs again, 12-5, on Saturday, March 14. Sophomore pitcher Lexi Kobryn started and pitched for two innings with two strikeouts.
Butler scored first, with two runs in the first inning. After four innings, the Bulldogs had a 10-run advantage. Senior second base Lilly St. Jean had an RBI single, scoring Katie Reed to make the score 12-3.
Reed hit a two-run double, scoring Jaclyn Morra and Madison Ostrowski in the fifth. Runco was intentionally walked, the fifth time that that has happened, a program record.
“And then we get into those tight, close situations, that I think [we need to] mentally tighten up a little better, just work there,” Orchard said. “I think they had good breakouts both of the days.”
The Bulldogs won the final game, 12-9, in 10 innings. Freshman pitcher Maggie King got the start on the mound and struck out two through five. She reentered in the eighth inning.
The Wildcats scored first with five runs in one inning. This began with two RBI singles by Cox and Burrows, followed by a fielder’s choice by Runco and a two-run double by Kobryn.
The Bulldogs responded, scoring three runs in the third, after St. Jean hit a double to bring in freshman Carly Zych.
Butler tied the game in the fifth, 6-6, before junior infielder Grace Reed managed an RBI walk and Kobryn hit a two-run single, which gave Villanova a 9-6 lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs scored three to force extra innings. After two scoreless innings, Butler scored three against the ‘Cats at the top of the 10th, winning the game, 12-9, and the weekend, 3-0.
“They’re gonna be really hard games,” Orchard said. “I’m hoping that we can get a lot of good preparation and work this week, and then we get out there, hopefully, and that’s softball.”
Villanova will host Saint Joe’s at home on Wednesday, March 18. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
