Ava Mahnken
Katie Billman
Ava Mahnken
4
Providence PC 22-28
5
Winner Villanova VU 26-24-1
Providence PC
22-28
4
Final
5
Villanova VU
26-24-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Providence PC 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 4 9 1
Villanova VU 0 0 2 0 1 1 1 5 7 1

W: Kobryn, Lexi (9-9) L: Twomey (4-12)

Game Recap: Softball |

Mahnken's Walk-Off Blast Lifts Wildcats Past Providence 5-4

Victory Clinches a BIG EAST Tournament berth for Villanova

VILLANOVA, Pa. – On an afternoon when Villanova celebrated its seniors, it got its biggest lift for a pair of freshmen.
 
Catcher Ava Mahnken (Staten Island, N.Y.) blasted a pair of home runs for her first career multi-homer game, including the decisive blow off the left field scoreboard as the first batter in the bottom of the seventh inning, to carry Villanova (26-24-1 overall, 14-9 BIG EAST) to a 5-4 victory over Providence (22-28 overall, 11-12 BIG EAST) on a sun-drenched spring afternoon at the Villanova Softball Complex Saturday.
 
Classmate Lexi Kobryn earned the victory with five solid innings of relief work.
 
The victory clinched a berth in next weekend's BIG EAST Tournament – hosted by Villanova – for the Wildcats.
 
The Friars' built an early 2-0 edge with single runs in each of the first two visitor frames. Mahnken tied the game in the bottom half of the frame on a home run, scoring Brooklyn Ostrowski, who had drawn a walk.
 
Kobryn surrendered single runs to Providence in the fourth and fifth innings, the latter on a longball from first baseman Julie Renny. But some nifty work with runners on base – the Friars would strand 11 runners on the day – she gave the Wildcats' bats time to come alive.
 
A Maranda Runco home run – her 16th – in the bottom of the fifth narrowed the Nova deficit to 4-3. The 'Cats then tied it in the bottom of the sixth on a Providence throwing error that allowed Grace Reed to score from first base.
 
That set the stage for Mahnken's big blow.
 
The rookie jumped on an offering from Alyssa Twomey leading off the bottom of the seventh, blasting it off the scoreboard beyond the left field fence. That set an on-field celebration with the spot in next week's BIG EAST Tournament now secured.
 
Prior to the game Villanova honored seniors Ava Franz, Kelsey White, Elaina Wagner and Alexa Raphael for their contributions to the program.
 
UP NEXT: The Wildcats are slated to conclude the regular season in a game Sunday against the Friars. Due to the potential for weather issues, first pitch has been moved up to 10 a.m.
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