Feb. 18, 2011
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Villanova (1-1) took advantages of a tough defensive second inning for South Carolina (3-3) to take a 2-1 win over the Gamecocks on Friday during the Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn Florida Gulf Coast University Tournament.
An errant throw by the Gamecock second baseman allowed Villanova’s Kristi Burlin, who started the inning with a hit, to score with one out in the second. Tessa Braga drove in Christina Botkins later to give the Wildcats the 2-0 advantage.
South Carolina had its best comeback attempt thwarted in the fourth. After senior Laura Mendes reached on an error, pinch runner Jackie Slawson scored from first after the throw on Molly Brossart’s bloop single got away from the Wildcat infielders. With two outs and down 2-1, the Gamecocks loaded the bases after a fielder’s choice by Kaitlin Westfall and a single by Kelley Dillon, but Villanova starter Molly Manning got a foul out to escape the jam.
Manning (1-0) took the win, scattering four hits and two walks over seven innings. She allowed the one unearned run while striking out one. Junior Kierstyn White (0-1) gave up two unearned runs on four hits and a walk in four innings of work. She fanned one.
