ATLANTA, Ga. — The Villanova softball team lost twice in the closing day of the Buzz Classic in Atlanta, Ga. Saturday. 

The 'Cats (0-6) did not win a game in their opening weekend for the first time since Feb. 26-28, 2021, when the team played at the Liberty Softball Classic in Lynchburg, Va. 

VU started the day with an 11-4 loss to East Carolina (2-1). 

Lexi Kobryn got the start for the 'Cats, receiving the loss after pitching an inning, giving up four earned runs on three hits, walking four and striking out one.

Julia Apostolakos took the win for the Pirates, pitching two innings and striking out two.

East Carolina struck first, scoring a run in the first, followed by seven in the second inning.  

Villanova scored its first run of the season in the top of the third when Jaclyn Morra hit a solo shot, the second home run of her career, to make it an 8-1 game.

Down 9-1 after three, VU scored three runs in the top of the fourth, starting with Ava Mahnken scoring on a passed ball before Madison Ostrowski hit a two-run double to left-center. 

The 'Cats scored their third run of the fourth inning on a Maddie Burrows fielder's choice that scored Lilly St. Jean from third. 

Neither team scored in the final two innings.

Kat Gallant, Maggie King and Sophia Mount came on in relief in the contest. 

In its weekend closer, Villanova lost 9-3 to No. 16 Alabama. 

Kobryn flexed into the circle in the first inning to start her second game of the day, pitching 2 2/3 innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits. 

VU took its first lead of the weekend in the first inning, scoring two runs on two wild pitches from starting Crimson Tide pitcher, Kaitlyn Pallozzi. 

Alabama responded in the bottom of the second with an Abby Duchscherer two-run home run to tie the game at 2-2. 

A Lilly St. Jean RBI double in the top of third gave the 'Cats the lead back at 3-2.

The Crimson Tide broke the game open in the bottom of the third, hitting two home runs to make it 7-3 and retaking the lead.

A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth and solo home run in the bottom of the sixth for Alabama rounded out the scoring on the day. 

In relief, Carly Zych pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits, walking three and striking out one. Mount pitched the final inning of the weekend for VU, going an inning, giving up no hits, walking one and striking out one. 

Up Next

Villanova heads to Charlotte, N.C. to play in the Charlotte Invitational. The 'Cats will take on the hosting 49ers and Virginia Tech twice as well as Michigan State. The tournament will run Feb. 13-15.