March 24, 2012
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Villanova (17-6) dropped their second straight game at the Penn Spring Invitational to Army (13-10) in a pitcher's duel by a score of 1-0 at the University of Pennsylvania. Senior pitcher Molly Manning (7-2) went the distance in surrendering just one unearned run, but the Villanova offense had just five hits and was unable to solve Army pitcher Morgan Lashley. Manning allowed nine hits, but worked in and out of the jams all day to keep the Black Knights offense off the scoreboard.
Manning allowed a lead-off single in the first, but junior catcher Amanda Marquez immediately erased her by throwing her out attempting to steal. Manning struck out the final two hitters to end the first. Villanova went down in order in the first as both teams were held scoreless through one inning.
In the top of the second, Army had back-to-back single to lead off the inning and it appeared as if the Black Knights had a rally in the making, but Manning struck out the next three hitters in order to silence Army. In the Wildcat second, senior third baseman Kristi Burlin led off the inning with a double to left-center and moved to third on a two-out single off the bat of freshman right fielder Beth Smetana. Smetana then swiped second base to put two runners in scoring position with two outs, but sophomore shortstop Ali Lowe went down swinging to keep the score 0-0.
Manning had her only 1-2-3 inning of the day in the top of the third with three straight pop outs, and Villanova got their lead-off hitter on in their half of the inning when senior left fielder Tessa Braga walked. However, Braga was doubled up when Marquez lined into a double play. Senior Jamie O'Hara had her first of two hits on the day with two outs, but she was stranded following a strikeout.
After three shutout innings by both pitchers, Army finally struck in the top of the fourth. A one-out single to center field started the rally and then Alexis AuBuchon hit a ball to center field that O'Hara was unable to handle. The runner came all the way around from first to score and put the Wildcats up 1-0. Manning struck out the next hitter and ended the frame on a pop-out, but the Black Knights had grabbed the lead. Villanova got their lead-off hitter when Burlin walked, but three straight fly outs ended the inning with Army in front as the Wildcats couldn't sustain any rally against the tough Lashley.
In the fifth, Manning worked around a two-out single with her seventh strikeout of the day and Lashley sent the Wildcats down in order in the bottom of the frame.
In the top of the sixth, the Black Knights got their first two runners on again, this time with a lead-off double followed by a single, but Manning toughened up and wiggled out of the jam with two groundouts and a pop out. Villanova had a quality chance in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game, but were unable to come up with the big hit. O'Hara singled to start the inning, but junior first baseman Valerie Ortega grounded into a fielder's choice for the first out. After Burlin went down on strikes, Manning singled to moved junior pinch runner to second base. With the tying run in scoring position, freshman Briana Fujii laced a ball down the line, but the third baseman snared it to put an end to the Villanova sixth with Army still on top 1-0.
Manning added two more strikeouts to her ledger in the top of the seventh to get to nine total, while walking none, and gave her teammates a chance to tie it in the seventh. However, Lashley sent the Wildcats down in order with two groundouts and a flyout as the Wildcats were shutout for the first time all season.
Villanova moved to 0-2 for the Penn Spring Invitational, but could advance to the Championship game if Penn defeats Army and the Wildcats defeat Rider.
