Oxford, AL – Vipers receive a solid pitching from Willis however, a controversial foul ball decision with two outs in the 7th inning’s seventh the possibility of a tie-breaking run in a defeat to Spark
By Joe Medley
How close were they come? Smash It Sports Vipers achieve their first win in the series of 2023 on a Thursday?
Closers that are almost extra-innings … as well as a controversial call close.
A foul ball called for in the event that Makena Smith’s potential game-winning home run, which was slated to be game-winning, with just 2 outs left in the seventh inning sailed through the foul pole and and left the Vipers with venomous spit following a loss of 3-2 to Oklahoma City Spark. Oklahoma City Spark.
In the last game of a three-game series against the Spark (8-2) at Choccolocco Park denied the Vipers (2-8) their first series win in the league. The Vipers won the game 4-1 on Wednesday after losing the opening game 3-0 on Tuesday.
The game was the Vipers fourth of the season, and their second at home. The Vipers scored their first victory at home in the second game of their season in a weekend match against The Texas Smoke.
The loss also meant Annie Willis’ strong relief appearance in the final four innings was not a success.
“This is a pain,” Vipers coach Gerry Glasco stated. “This team desperately needs a break, but we weren’t able to take it.”
After the game, conversation was focused on Smith’s 2-out at bat in the seventh inning’s bottom. With a count of 0-1 third baseman, who is a chatty player who was accompanied by Chipmunks walk-up tunes sent an attempt down the left field line. It seemed to go over the rectangular cage that was attached with the pole’s inside, before it sailed to the left.
Glasco added a spike to his cap when disputing the call.
“It’s at the point that you cross the fence” he explained. “When it crossed over to the pole that was foul, it went over the pole that was foul and it caught the pole foul. You don’t have to watch it until it hooks foul.
“It wasn’t even at the outside of the pole. It was right in center of the pole and we didn’t receive the signal.”
Smith was a bit off at the end of her next pitch. She was arguably the Vipers most frank and spirited player from the very first pitch to last, she refused requests for post-game interviews.
The spark reliever Chenise Delce pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief in the win. She only allowed one hit Alissa Dalton’s RBI single that made it 4-3 in the fourth she took out 3 batters. Her strikeouts included Suzy Brookshire, and then allowed Suzy Brookshire to pop out. Smith to leave with the bases full at the end of fourth.
The pitcher Keely Rochard was credited with two runs, but he got the win after just 3 1/3 innings.
As amazingly as Delce got out of a bases-loaded jam at the fourth inning’s bottom, Willis did it in the top of the fourth.
Willis took over in the place of Meghan Schorman. She had no outs, and with two runners on and then hit Fa Leilua to fill the bases. There was a first inning advancing however, Willis coolly struck out Michelle Moultrie. Sydney Sherrill, who hit a solo homer in the first inning went out in the second, and Willis was able to strike out Jocelyn Alo, one of Women’s Professional Fastpitch softball’s most fearsome batters.
“Honestly I didn’t realize, but I thought to myself, “I’m like, I’m just going to be in there and I’m gonna give everything to the team behind me and us to get out of this mess,” Willis said. “It was really just throw the pitch (catcher) Mary (Iakopo) calls and let the defense do the work to my left.”
Willis was able to knock out five batters and allowed three hits over the course of four innings.
“Annie was fantastic,” Glasco said. “I think Schorman got us off to an impressive start. Annie was really efficient as she came in as a relief. Superb throwing, and hitting batters.”
The Spark established a 2-0 advantage on Sherrill’s solo homer as well as Keilani Ricketts’ RBI single in the first innings. Dalton’s fielder’s pick scored one run, bringing the Vipers close to 2-1 in the third in the second.
This was the catalyst for Willis his fourth-inning fire, which he then smothered.
The Spark began the rally with Yvonne’s ground-rule double as well as Lynnsie Elam’s single place runners on the second and third. Chloe Malauulu hit an inside line drive to the third base line, hitting so hard that she knocked Smith’s glove off her hands as she attempted to catch a jumper and score for an advantage of 3-1.
The Vipers were able to call Willis on the circle following the incident, and she worked through a base-loaded jam.
Delce also did this in the final third. The Vipers also let runners off third and second bases in the first and second innings.
“We did not do anything to help ourself,” Glasco said. “We could have tagged earlier in the first in the first. We had the opportunity to tag and get in, but we hesitated. We played a bit cautious here, and after that, we had bases loaded but didn’t hit that big hit.”
Moultrie who is the Spark’s right fielder was also the one to rob The Vipers at least three times. She rushed up and swung the leaping catch to stop Brooke Wilmes would-be single in the second inning. She also and then smashed Karly Heath’s liner down to an alert track during the 3rd, and then sprinted for an explosive catch to block Tatyana Forbes’ chance to double in at the bottom of the sixth.
“That’s the thing that makes it fun to watch WPF,” Glasco said. “You have seen catches tonight from Moultrie in the right field. You could watch the entire college season and you’ll not have two more catches than the one she made this evening.
“That was a really good play from the defensive perspective and it was great to see an outfielder like Moultrie in the field taking those catch. This is a child who played center field in the Olympic team, an All-American centerfielder from Florida. She’s been an incredible defense player.”
