Clarksville, Ark.- In one of its biggest comebacks in recent memory, the U of O softball team capped a spectacular comeback in dramatic fashion with a 13-12 extra inning game two win to complete a double-header sweep over Centenary College Tuesday afternoon.
Ozarks (10-13) won game one 13-4, and then rallied in game two to grab its second double-header sweep of the season.
Fans can re-watch the dramatic comeback here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/60589840
Game two saw the Lady Eagles one out away from being run-ruled in the fifth, but Laurie Adkins' troops fought back to pull within 11-6 to extend the game. With two outs and a runner on first, Shawnee Sorensen was hit by a pitch to jumpstart the rally. Laken Gray singled up the middle to score one run, and Brooke Hoffsommer recorded another single to score Sorensen. Still down to their last out, Madison Cluck ripped a single up the middle to score two runs and push the game to the sixth inning. With momentum on their side, the Lady Eagles continued to generate runs, scoring six more in the sixth inning. Hannah Oler began the sixth-inning surge with one of the deepest home runs ever hit at Hurie Softball Field. Oler launched a shot over the left field fence that landed on top of the batting cages, which are located well beyond the left field fence. It was Oler's second home run of the season. From there, Hailie Tolich, Sorensen, Hoffsommer and Bethany Mason drove in runs to eventually even the score 12-12. In all, Ozarks recorded seven hits in the frame. Oler, who came in to pitch in the fourth, didn't allow a base runner in the top of the seventh. Ozarks was unable to produce a run in the bottom half of the inning, but Oler again worked quickly in the eighth, with two groundouts and a pop out, to set up Ozarks' dramatic win. In the bottom of the eighth and with Sorensen automatically placed on second base, Laken Gray bunted a ball that was fielded by the first baseman, but the second baseman mishandled the throw to allow Sorensen to score the game-winning run.
Mason, Hoffsommer, Cluck and Ryan Gibson all had two hits each. Sorensen scored four runs. Oler (2-5) took the win.
"In game two, we dug ourselves into a hole early, only to post a spectacular comeback late in the game," said Adkins. "I'm impressed with the ability of this young team to keep focus through a long game. In the first game, I was also impressed with the way our freshmen stepped up and played beyond their years."
The Lady Eagles enforced the run-rule in a game one win, but again had to make a comeback to preserve the victory. Ozarks trailed 4-1 heading into the bottom of the third, but exploded for 12 runs in the frame to secure a double-digit win. Ozarks totaled ten hits in the third, highlighted by a three-run homer from Gibson. Krysten Shavers produced a two-run single in the inning, and Hailie Gilbert, Beth Massey and Gibson had RBI singles, too.
Gibson went 3-for-3 with 5 RBI. Gilbert (7-6) worked a six-hit complete game to receive the win.
Centenary falls to 7-17 overall.
Ozarks will travel to Belton, Texas to face University of Mary Hardin-Baylor for a three-game series April 2-3.
