PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania baseball team looked like it might sneak a win away from Villanova on Sunday afternoon, only for the Wildcats to respond in kind for a 3-2 victory over the Quakers.
 
Penn was down 1-0 heading into the ninth inning but scored twice to take its first lead of the weekend from the Wildcats. The Quakers were then one out away from the victory before Villanova got a pair of singles and took advantage of a Penn error on the second one for two runs and the walk-off win.
 
Ben Miller led off for Penn in the top of the ninth, hit a single to right center, and was replaced by pinch runner Seth Werchan. Craig Larsen's attempted sacrifice bunt was popped up and caught by catcher Will Reiner, but Jackson Petersen roped a double down the right-field line which put runners on second and third with just one out. Wyatt Henseler then grounded a ball sharply to first base. The throw came home, the tag was made and Werchan was called out. However, Penn challenged the call and it was reversed, tying the game.
 
Penn still had first and third and just one out after the reversal. Villanova brought Mike Schwartz to the mound and he induced a weak popup for the second out, then the Cats made another pitching change. Cam Mathis walked Jackson Appel to load the bases, which brought leadoff man Tommy Courtney to the plate. Mathis was called for a balk during the at-bat, which scored Petersen and gave Penn the 2-1 lead. Courtney eventually struck out.
 
Villanova responded quickly in the bottom of the ninth. Pat O'Neill led off the frame with a double, and with the Cats down to their final out Will Reiner hit a Texas leaguer into left field that scored O'Neill and tied things back up. Chris Rotondo then singled to right-center, and a throwing error as Reiner advanced to third allowed him to score the winning run.
 
The only run in the first eight innings came off the bat of Villanova's Ryan Toohers, who led off the bottom of the fourth by taking Kevin Eaise deep to dead center for a home run.
 
Penn looked like it might put something together late in the top of the seventh. After two quick outs, Petersen singled to left and then Henseler was hit by a pitch. In his first collegiate at-bat, pinch hitter Carson Ozmer bounced a ball to third base but was safe when the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag. With the bases loaded, though, Calvin Brown struck out and the rally was snuffed out.
 
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Villanova's O'Neill bounced a ball over the pitcher's mound and beat the throw for a single, advancing to second when the hurried throw went wide. He then took third when David Shoemaker's pickoff attempt was mishandled at second base. However, Shoemaker bore down at that point and struck out the next two batters he faced to keep it a one-run game.
 
Villanova threatened again in the eighth inning. Throwing his first collegiate pitches, Cole Zaffiro walked Reiner and hit Jack O'Reilly. Both runners eventually advanced a base, and with two outs Zaffiro hit Toohers on a 2-2 pitch to load the bases. At that point head coach John Yurkow called on Cole Sichley, and the senior did his job by inducing a dribbler back toward the mound which ended the inning and Villanova's threat.
 
Overall, the Quakers offense struggled for the second time in as many days—not surprising, given how far Penn was behind its weekend opponent. (This weekend was the Quakers' first games in more than a year, while Villanova entered the weekend having played eight games already.) Petersen had two of Penn's five hits, while Eduardo Malinowski, Andrew Hernandez and Miller had one apiece.
 
Bryce Mangene started Sunday's game and went two hitless innings before making way for Eaise. Overall, the Quakers' five hurlers on the day allowed just five hits and struck out 12 Villanova batters.
 
Penn will host La Salle next week in a four-game set over three days, as the teams will play single games on Thursday and Friday before wrapping up with a doubleheader on Saturday.