Grizzlies get picture perfect walk-off win for 1st home game of season
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Arkansas College | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 24 | 1 |
|
Missouri State University - West Plains | 2 | 3 | 1 | X | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri State University - West Plains | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
|
Williams Baptist JV | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
North Arkansas College | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 2 |
|
Missouri State University - West Plains | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Missouri State University - West Plains | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
|
Williams Baptist JV | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Freshman infielder Hailey Garrison's picture perfect walk-off in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Softball team a dramatically sweet victory in its season home opener.
The Grizzlies (2-4) defeated the North Arkansas College Pioneers (8-14) from Harrison 13-12 in the extra inning outing.
The game was tied 12-12 in the bottom of the 10th when the Sarcoxie graduate got the walk-off to secure the win for the Grizzlies.
"Our bats were warmed up for the contest," Grizzly Softball Head Coach Don Long said. "Molly Poole went 3-5 with two out-of-the-park home runs and 4 RBIs."
Poole, a freshman infielder from Monett, led a five-run Grizzly rally in the sixth inning with one of her home runs. Her other homer came in the third frame.
Freshman outfielder Lexy Bridges got the ball rolling for the Grizzlies in the first inning with a single on the first pitch of her at-bat which scored a run.
The game went into extra innings when freshman infielder Tessa Feeback, Fordland, answered North Arkansas' top-of-the-ninth home run with double on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.
In all, the Grizzlies scattered 13 hits throughout the contest. Poole, Bridges, freshman infielder Mackenzie Massey of Grandby and freshman outfielder Madalyn Ivy of Mansfield each recorded multiple hits. Poole, Bridges and Massey led the way with three each.
The Grizzlies also got a strong performance on the mound by transfer pitcher Anabelle Hitt from Lynchburg. The righty went all 10 innings allowing 8 runs on 8 hits and striking out 8.
After an exciting four-and-a-half-hour game one, the double header nightcap was shortened to three complete innings. The Pioneers exacted revenge in the contest, defeating the Grizzlies 17-6.
Poole again led the Grizzlies' offense with a home run and 2 RBIs.
Losses to Williams Baptist
Before Wednesday's home opener, the Grizzlies played a double header Tuesday, Feb. 28, against the junior varsity team from Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. The Grizzlies dropped both contests 3-1.
In the first game, Hitt put in a strong performance from the mound, striking out 10 batters, but the Grizzlies struggled at the plate. Poole went 2-3 and freshman infielder Madison Good, Branson, recorded 1 RBI.
In the second game, freshman pitcher Kailey Garrett, Plato, also had a strong performance from the mound, recording four strikeouts, but the Grizzlies' offense continued to struggle at the plate. Garrison went 2-3 with 1 RBI. Bridges and Feeback each went 1-3 to pick up the other two hits in the game.
"We would like to thank our fans and community members for coming out to support our team at our home opener," Long said. "We look forward to being back on our home field Tuesday (March 7) to play host to Williams Baptist."
For more information about the Grizzly Softball team, visit the team's Facebook page, Facebook.com/GrizzlySB, or MSUWPGrizzlies.com.