Oxford, AL –One one step away from winning, Oxford’s Smash It Sports Vipers are defeated 7-4 by the Oklahoma City Spark rallies for four runs in the top of seventh innings.
By Joe Medley
Breakthrough quickly became heartbreak to Oxford’s Smash It Sports Vipers on Monday.
The Oklahoma City Spark rallied for four two-out runs in seventh inning’s first inning to regain the lead in their Women’s Pro Fastpitch game and prevailed 7-4 on the field at Choccolocco Park.
The Vipers fell to 2-12 after their fifth straight loss. The team is coming off the break of a week between games with hopes of an opportunity to turn the momentum.
“It’s difficult but you’ve seen that,” third baseman Makena Smith stated. “We were there. We were in it to be victorious. The team fell apart in the final, but we’re an entirely different team following breaking.”
The Vipers are a completely different team after the break. They have added Jenna Kean during the break as well as an ex- University of Arizona and University of Louisiana center fielder was able to allow Raina O’Neal the opportunity to play left field.
“Kean is a great choice, as she adds speed to our team,” Vipers assistant coach Hunter Veach said. “We’re in a position to make adjustments with our team to incorporate the power, speed and defensive.
“Down down the road, that’s exactly what we’re going to require.”
No word yet about the extent of the pitching Annie Willis’ arm injury that occurred before the break. The pitcher was not in uniform on Monday, however Gianna Mancha was on the field and almost became the first Vipers pitcher who wasn’t known as Amber Viser to win this season.
Mancha took over for Fiser in the fifth innings. Former Boise State/University Central Florida star allowed no runners in the fifth and sixth innings. He hit out Fa Leilua and Yvonne Whaley to start the seventh.
“Gianna was just on her national team and they were awarded the gold medal, so she was back with a fresh beginning was a great thing for her to be able to return and play the way she could,” Veach said. “She played a great game.” an opponent.”
Mancha was relegated to Meghan Schorman after she gave up two-out singles in favor of Lynnsie Elam.
Elam’s single triggered an out-of-the-park rally. Chloe Malauulu welcomed Schorman with an unintentional single, and Schorman scored Chelsea Alexander to load the bases. Sami Williams followed with a 2-run single to take their lead over the Spark as well as Sydney Sherrill hit a two-run double in right-center gap in the field in order to bring the score to 7-4.
The Vipers received Chelsea Gonzales’ two-out infield single in the seventh inning’s bottom But Alex Storako struck out Tatyana Forbes to put the game out of reach.
It was a night of promising prospects for the Vipers who rallied following the Spark’s three-run third innings to lead.
Karly Heath began the comeback in the middle of the third by launching a solo shot into the bleachers of right-center field for a 3-1 score.
“It was good feeling,” Heath said. “I was struggling prior to when we took a break frequently and tried to figure out my swing. It was a great feeling to have the confidence that I hit the home run.
“Just to have my teammates out from the dugout clapping for me, it was very good knowing they’re behind me.”
Suzy Brookshire started the fourth inning with a double and scored with Mary Iakopo’s single for 3-2 and Smith made it 3-2, and Smith gave his Vipers their lead by hitting a two-run one-out double to right-centerfield during the 6th.
“It was an exciting experience,” Smith said. “It would have been even better had we won however it was thrilling to be able to show my teammates.”
The spark’s seventh-inning rally changed the mood inside the Vipers Dugout.
“It’s certainly an emotional rollercoaster ride,” Heath said.
