VILLANOVA, Pa. – The La Salle softball team (7-16) scored three runs in the top of the 6th inning to tie the game before Villanova (W, 10-10) won it in the 8^th on a Lauren Hanna walk-off homer.

The Wildcats led 6-3 before the 6^th inning rally by the Explorers. Ashley Mendenhall, who finished 3-for-5, drove in a run with a single and Valerie Pineiro made it a one-run game with a fielder's choice groundball. Taylor Rohrbaugh then scored the equalizer on wild pitch with two outs.

The Explorers came out of the gate swinging, pushing two runs across the board in the 1st inning on four hits. Rohrbaugh had an RBI double and Bridget Magee singled in a run before La Salle scored again in the 3^rd on a Pineiro sacrifice fly.

Morgan Orlowski (L, 1-3) pitched two scoreless innings before surrendering the homer in the 8^th. Reilly Gearhart made the start for La Salle, tossing five innings while giving up six runs on 10 hits and three walks.

Villanova used four different pitchers, with Gabby Wenn (W, 1-0) tossing a scoreless 8^th to earn the win.

The two teams began to play a second game that was called off in the 3^rd inning due to darkness, and thus doesn't count as an official game. The Explorers host Rhode Island for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday at West Campus Field.