Box Score
TUSCSON, Ariz. – If someone would have just watched the first couple innings of the Edgewood College's softball game against Marian University, they would have thought the Sabres would have won the contest easily. However, the Eagles fought back from a nine run deficit to tie the game and send it to extra innings, but the Sabres prevailed to take the contest 18-16 in 12 innings.
Marian (4-4) started the game with their offense firing on all cylinders as they scored nine runs in the first two innings, including eight in the first inning. Their first inning onslaught was highlighted by two two-run home runs and two run scoring triples. The Sabres then tacked on one run in the second to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
The Eagles (2-4) got on the board in the third inning when Jessica Spitzer started a two-out rally with a ground-rule double. Then Colleen Joyce singled to right field and Spitzer scored on an error by the Sabre right fielder to cut the deficit to eight.
Edgewood College continued to chip away in the third inning when Hannah Grossen sparked the offense with a double down the left field line. Karmen Dorshorst followed with a walk to put runners on first and second with one out. Emily Monson then hit a ringing single to left field that was misplayed by the left fielder and all three runners came around to score and cut the deficit to 9-4.
In the sixth inning, the Eagles inched closer as they tallied one run on back-to-back two-out ground-rule doubles. Monson ripped the first one to center field, then Pam Sommer drove her in when she sent one to right center field.
The Sabres tacked on a much needed insurance run in the seventh inning to push their lead to 10-5. However, the Eagles did not quit as Joyce started the inning with a single and then moved to second on a ground out. After a Kristen Salvatore single, Kayla Rackow walked to load the bases with just one away. Grossen drove in Joyce with a single and after a strike out, Monson drew a bases loaded walk to cut the deficit to three. Sommer followed with a bases clearing triple to right center to tie the game at 10 (See highlight below). Spitzer then ripped a line drive right to the left fielder, and the game went to extra innings.
In extra innings, the teams used the international tie breaker rule as they started each extra frame with a runner on second base. Marian started the eighth with a run in the top half of the inning and left another run at third base. Just as they did before, the Eagles came back. With Spitzer on second base, Joyce reached on a throwing error and Spitzer scored to tie the game.
It appeared that Marian had broken the game open in the ninth when they tallied three runs. After a sacrifice moved the runner to third, the Sabres' Brooke Haen scored that run with a single. Emilie Jansen followed her with a two-run home run to make the score 14-11.
In the home half of the inning, the Eagles placed Rackow on second base, and Monica Humphrey laced a single up the middle to score her and cut the deficit to two. After back-to-back singles by Monson and Sommer, Spitzer tied the game with a two-run double down the left field line and put runners on second and third with only one out. The next two batters grounded out and the game went to the 10th inning.
The Eagle defense held the Sabres scoreless in the 10th and had an opportunity to win the game in the home half of the inning. However, the Eagles sacrifice attempt went array as the Sabres cut down the runner attempting to go to third and Edgewood College was unable to score and the game moved to the 11th inning tied at 14.
It looked like the Eagles were going to get out of the 11th inning tied after they induced a foul out bunt attempt and a pop out. However, Haen scored the runner on second with a two-out single as the Sabres took a one run advantage. The Eagles answered again, as Dorshorst dropped down a sacrifice bunt that moved Grossen to third base, and then Monson tied the game with her fifth hit of the game. Edgewood College then went down in order to send the game to the 12th inning.
After the Sabres moved their runner to third base in the 12th inning, Amy Malcore hit a ground ball to Joyce at third base. Joyce made a pump fake to first base and the runner on third bit as Joyce twirled around and caught the runner off third base and the Eagles dodged a bullet. The next batter then singlde and advanced to second as the Eagles attempted to cut down the runner going to third. Then with runners on second and third, Edgewood College intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases and make a force at any base. That did not make a difference as Ashley Engler, the next batter, ripped a bases clearing double to left center field and the Sabres took an 18-15 lead going into the home half of the 12th inning.
Edgewood College could not muster another come back in the bottom of the inning as they tallied just one run to make the final score 18-16 in 12 innings.
In the contest, Marian ripped 22 hits while the Eagles pounded out 20 of their own. Claire Blake threw all 12 innings for Edgewood College and struck out five Sabres while only walking one. On the offensive end, four Eagles recorded three-hits in the game. Monson went 5-for-6 with a walk, scored four runs and tallied two runs batted in while Spitzer went 4-for-7, drove in two runs and scored three more. Sommer and Grossen each went 3-for-6 from the plate as Sommer recorded a team-high four runs batted and Grossen scored three runs while driving in one.
Edgewood College will finish their spring trip on Sunday morning when they face Marian University again with the first pitch scheduled for 9:00 a.m. pacific time. Edgewood College will provide live stats for both games of the doubleheader, and the link can be found on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
