VILLANOVA, Pa. – The La Salle softball team fell 7-5 to the Wildcats of Villanova on Thursday afternoon at the Villanova Softball Complex despite a strong start from the Explorers.

La Salle had 10 hits on the afternoon, including two hits each by Christina Bascara and Mackenzie Obert, but the Villanova bats were lively in the middle innings.

Obert got the offense going with a solo homer in the 1st but Villanova answered in the home half with a pair of runs to take a 2-1 lead. La Salle picked up three runs in the 2^nd to go up 4-2 thanks to three straight RBI singles by Kristin Martin, Emily Conaway and Bascara.  

From there, Villanova answered with a run in the bottom of the 2^nd and then two more in the 3^rd and 4^th innings. Mackenzie Peace made the start but only recorded four outs before turning the ball over to Reilly Gearhart (L, 2-5).

Peace was charged with two earned runs while Gearhart gave up five runs (three earned) in two innings of work before Marlo Roadcap held the Wildcats scoreless over the final 2.2 innings.

La Salle travels north to St. Bonaventure this weekend for a three-game series with the Bonnies. The schedule for the weekend has been adjusted due to forecasted weather, and the Explorers will now play a single game Saturday at 1 PM followed by a doubleheader on Sunday at noon.