VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova softball started off its penultimate conference home weekend on a high note, defeating the DePaul Blue Demons 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Villanova Softball Complex.
Kat Gallant was the star of the show for Villanova (20-17-1, 9-4 BIG EAST), twirling a two-hit complete game shutout with six strikeouts in the circle.
Ava Franz went 3-for-3 with a trio of singles for the Wildcats, driving home the game-winning run with a sixth-inning base knock and scoring an insurance run a few batters later.
Maranda Runco notched the contest's lone extra-base hit with a double while Ava Mahnken, Elaina Wagner, Madison Ostrowski and Maddie Burrows each singled for the 'Cats.
Gallant retired the Blue Demons 1-2-3 in the opening frame and despite three singles to load the bases for VU in the bottom half, it remained 0-0 after one.
Both pitchers sent the opposition down in order during the second, then a caught stealing nullified a Franz two-out single in the third.
DePaul got its first baserunner of the day with a fourth-frame base knock, but Kelsey White turned a double play out in left by tracking down a liner and gunning down a runner at first to keep the scoreboard blank after four.
After Gallant struck out the side in the fifth, Ostrowski singled for the 'Cats with two down in the home half but nothing came of it.
The Blue Demons got a one-out single in the sixth for their second runner, though Gallant stranded them to keep it tied at zero.
Runco began the sixth on a line drive two-bagger into left center for a leadoff double. After a DPU pitching change, Franz sent a ball back through the middle and pinch runner Alexa Raphael slid around the tag for a 1-0 ballgame.
Wagner and White drew the game's first walks to earn their way aboard and load the bases, then Burrows gave VU an insurance run with a rocket off an infielder's glove for another run and 2-0 edge after six.
Gallant came back out into the circle for the seventh and delivered as she had all day, inducing three flyouts to complete her two-hit shutout as a 2-0 Villanova victory.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats and Blue Demons will play a Sunday doubleheader to finish out the series with first pitch of the opening game coming at 10 a.m. and the second starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.
