Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2

PHILADELPHIA - Breanna DiTommaso went 5-for-6 at the plate to lead the La Salle softball team in two games against Villanova on Tuesday afternoon in the Explorers' home opener. The Wildcats won the first game 8-0 in five innings before taking game two by a score of 8-5.

With her five hits, DiTommaso raised her season average to a now-team-best .333. She also scored three of La Salle's five runs.

The first game was all Villanova (17-4) as the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead on a leadoff home run by Amanda Marquez to open the game. They got two more in the second on a Taylor Olafson bases-clearing double before erupting for five in the third inning. Three of those were on a Tessa Braga bases-clearing double.

The Explorers (3-15) had a good chance to score in the bottom of the third. Alyssa Bitsimis knocked out a one-out single past Wildcat third baseman Kristi Burlin and DiTommaso followed up with her second hit of the day, a single to left. Megan Hodgson then hit into a fielder's choice with DiTommaso out on the play, but the play advanced Bitsimis to third before she was thrown out at home when Alicia Aughton hit the ball to shortstop Ali Lowe.

Aughton took the loss in the circle, going all five innings and giving up eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits, while striking out four. Villanova's Caitlyn Delahaba earned the win, going three innings and giving up two hits while striking out seven. Adrienne Drummond and Ali Angelbello pitched the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, with Drummond yielding two hits.

In game two, Villanova got four runs in the top of the third to open scoring, two of those on sacrifice fly balls.

The Explorers got one back in the bottom of the frame. DiTommaso knocked out a leadoff single to right center and moved to second on a passed ball. Liz Reed delivered a sac bunt to move DiTommaso to third, who then scored on Hodgson's RBI single to left center.

Villanova added one more in the fourth on a solo home run to by Beth Smetana.

After two scoreless frames, La Salle cut Villanova's lead down to 5-2. DiTommaso recorded another leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth and scored on Reed's double to right center.

Unfortunately, the Wildcats put the game out of reach with a three-run seventh on a Randi Josett three-run blast.

Aughton responded with her own three-run blast in the bottom of the inning to also score DiTommaso and Hodgson, who had reached on walks, and post the final 8-5 score.

Kristin Travers took the loss, going the distance while giving up eight runs on 11 hits and striking out two. Four Wildcats saw action in the circle with Kaity Sitzman earning the win. Sitzman went four innings, giving up one run on five hits and striking out two. Angelbello, Drummond and Molly Manning also saw time.

The Explorers return to action on Friday (3/23) when they host Fordham in a single game at 3 p.m.