GREENVILLE – After two scoreless innings, the Greenville Lady Wave broke through in the third and never looked back, rolling to a 10-0 run-rule win over visiting Fairborn in Monday night Miami Valley League softball action at Lady Wave Stadium.
“Great day for Lady Wave Softball,” said Greenville coach Jerrod Newland. “Fun stuff out here, good team coming in – Fairborn.”
Greenville improved with a balanced effort at the plate and a dominant outing in the circle from Ella Oswalt, who struck out 12 and allowed just two hits over six shutout innings without issuing a walk.
The Lady Wave threatened early but finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Rielynn Davidson opened the inning with a single to right, and after a Fairborn error put another runner aboard, Oswalt blasted a three-run home run to left to give Greenville a 3-0 lead.
“Crisp, good game,” Newland said. “Ella gets one there to get us 3-zip.”
Greenville added to its advantage in the fourth when Davidson lined a solo home run to center, pushing the Lady Wave lead to 4-0.
The Lady Wave put the game out of reach in the fifth, erupting for five runs. Leah Force opened the inning with a walk, and Oswalt followed with a free pass after ducking out of the way of a high inside pitch. Lizzie Shaffer then drove a two-run double to center, Lily Brubaker added an RBI single to center, and Jordyn McMullen capped the inning with a towering two-run homer to left for a 9-0 Greenville advantage.
Greenville finished the game in the sixth. Force reached on an error, Oswalt was intentionally walked, and a Fairborn infield error allowed Payton Fourman to score the 10th and final run, ending the game by run rule.
“We pitched, we played defense, we played really well, and three balls went out today – Oswalt, Davidson, and Jordan get one, and we hit it square,” Newland stated. “The wind was blowing straight in today, and those balls were hit hard.”
Oswalt also led the Greenville offense, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Shaffer and Davidson each collected two hits, with Davidson homering and scoring twice. McMullen added two RBIs on her fifth-inning blast, while Brubaker drove in a run.
Greenville was sharp defensively as well, playing error-free softball behind Oswalt.
Oswalt controlled the count throughout the night, throwing strikes on 75 percent of her pitches and opening 15 of 20 Fairborn plate appearances with a first-pitch strike. Oswalt generated 24 swinging strikes on just 74 pitches and did not allow a leadoff walk all game.
“Good team win, good stuff, and just proud of the kids,” Coach Newland concluded. “A big league win, and we go to Fairborn Wednesday and Butler Thursday, so big week for Lady Wave Softball.”
BOX SCORE:
123 456 7 R H E
000 000 X 0 2 3 Fairborn
003 151 X 10 8 0 Greenville
