GREENVILLE – The Greenville Lady Wave softball team battled back from a four-run deficit Saturday to earn an 8-7 walk-off win over Oak Hills in dramatic fashion.
Tied 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Greenville pushed across the winning run on an Oak Hills error to cap the comeback.
“We’re growing up, we’re young, we only have two seniors,” said Greenville coach Jerrod Newland. “Proud of the kids for clutching up. We made some nice defensive plays, Force playing awesome out there, doing some great things.”
Greenville trailed 7-3 in the fifth inning before turning the game around.
Oak Hills struck first in the opening inning when Payton Veneman induced Kendall Cromwell into a fielder’s choice that still brought home a run. Greenville answered in the top of the second, but Oak Hills used a Greenville error to knot the score at 1-1.
Oak Hills moved in front 2-1 in the third when Sasha Emmrich doubled home a run, but the Lady Wave answered in the bottom half. Lizzie Shaffer grounded out to score two runs and give Greenville a 3-2 advantage.
Oak Hills seized control in the top of the fifth, erupting for five runs on four hits to take a 7-3 lead. Veneman delivered the key hit of the inning with a two-run single.
Greenville responded quickly in the bottom of the fifth when Shaffer blasted a three-run home run to center field, cutting the deficit to 7-6.
“Liz hits it square,” Newland said. “Fortunate we had two kids on base. That’s the thing, we have three or four kids that hit it really square, and they’re getting better.”
The Lady Wave completed the comeback in the seventh. Shaffer singled to left field to drive in the tying run, and Greenville scored the game-winner moments later on an Oak Hills miscue.
“We didn’t catch too many breaks,” said Newland. “Not too many things hopped our way, but good teams find ways, and we found a way in this game to keep busting through, chipping away.”
Ella Oswalt earned the win in relief for Greenville, allowing no hits and no runs over 2 1/3 innings while striking out three and walking none. Shaffer started in the circle, giving up seven runs, five earned, on six hits over 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts and three walks.
Veneman started for Oak Hills, allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits over four innings while striking out two and walking one.
Shaffer powered the Greenville offense from the No. 3 spot, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including the pivotal three-run homer. Leadoff hitter Leah Force led the Lady Wave with three hits in four at-bats.
Veneman paced Oak Hills offensively with two RBIs while going 2-for-4. Brooke Hoffmeier added two stolen bases.
“Excited where we’re at,” Newland said. “We’ll get better. We’re so sloppy right now in March. I love our team. We’re young, we’re goofy, we’re tripping over our own feet, we’re getting better but what I like is the young kids growing up.”
“Last year, Leah Force was a freshman; she’s a sophomore,” Newland added. “Lizzie was a sophomore; she’s a junior. Those kids are growing up, getting more confident, and it’s going to be a fun softball season. Rest assured, we have to get a lot better, and we will. I’m just so proud of the kids.”
Greenville returns to action Wednesday with a road game at Xenia.
BOX SCORE
Oak Hills – 0 1 1 0 5 0 0 — 7 6 5
Greenville – 1 0 2 0 3 0 2 — 8 8 2
