Coach Jim Eftink said, There "was some sloppy play out there on both sides. I think the weather and wet conditions were factors. Sometimes you have to win ugly and that’s about what happened. Once again no one gave up despite being down for most of the game."
The inning started with Oran trailing 11-10. Sydney Kern led off the frame with a four-pitch walk. She was on second with two outs when Jessie Long hit a 3-2 pitch to the third baseman who bobbled the ball, allowing Long to reach and Kern to advance to third. After that, the wheels fell off for the hosts. During Claire Ramsey's four-pitch walk Long stole second and Kern tied the game on a wild pitch which also allowed Long to move over to third, it was the first of four consecutive bases on balls. Long scored on the fourth, given to Katelyn Streeter. The bases were loaded which set up perhaps the biggest hit of the night. Pinch-hitter Taylor Lowes lined an 0-1 pitch down the right-field line, just fair, and it rolled into the corner. All three base runners scored and Lowes ended up on third. The Lady Eagles now led 14-11 but they weren't done. Not by a long shot.
Of Lowes' hit, Eftink said, "Taylor came up with a big triple in the 7th. A really clutch 2 out hit that we needed!That really gave us the separation and some breathing room that was much needed. Ste Gen’s a good hitting team and I would have hated to go into the bottom of the seventh tied up or with only a one-run lead."
Maddie Graviett hit her second double of the evening to drive in Lowes. Kern came up for her second plate appearance of the inning and hit the second triple of the inning, driving in Graviett. Kaylee Payne walked and stole second. Leah Cauble beat out a ground ball to short for an infield single. Kern and Payne were both able to score.
A walk to Long move Cauble to second, she scored on a Ramsey single and Long ended up at third. After a Samantha Welter walk, the bases were loaded again. But not for long, Streeter cleared the bases with 1-0 double to center. Oran scored 13 runs on two triples, two doubles, two singles and eight walks.
The Eagles jumped out on top by scoring four in the top of the first. Kern walked and scored on Payne's double. Payne scored on Cauble's single. Long would walk and score after Welter singled.
Welter got the start in the circle. After a one, two, three, first. She struggled in the second after Oran had extended the lead to 6-0 as Graviett and Payne both scored. She faced five batters and was unable to record an out. She walked four and had an error behind her.
Payne came in in relief and was eventually able to get out of it, but not until the Dragons had taken a 7-6 lead.
The hosts would add another run in the third.
Oran would trim the deficit to 8-7 after Cauble's lead-off single and Welter's two-out double
The Eagles took a 10-8 lead in their half of the fifth
One-out singles by Kern and Payne and back-to-back walks to Cauble and Long followed but a perfect squeeze bunt by Ramsey gave Oran a two-run lead. But they could not make that stand up.
Ste. Gen used a double and an error and a two-out home run to take the 11-10 lead into the monumental seventh.
Oran allowed only a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh.
Payne (2-0) went 6 innings, allowed 10 hits, and six runs, three earned. She struck out five and walked two. Welter pitched one-plus innings. She did not allow a hit. She gave up five runs, none earned on four walks and stuck out two.
Cauble and Streeter each had four runs driven in during the contest. Lowes and Ramsey had three each and Welter added two.
Kern crossed the plate five times, Cauble four times, Payne and Long three times, Ramsey and Welter twice.
Kern and Cauble each had three hits. Payne, Ramsey, Welter and Graviett had two hits.
On the game, the Eagles were given a total of 15 walks.
The Junior Varsity played three innings after the varsity game. Oran won 3-0. Alyssa Spane pitched for the Eagles.
They are scheduled to play at Oak Ridge tomorrow at 4:30.
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