GREENVILLE – The 22-1 Greenville Lady Wave did not bolt out to an early lead as is often the rule, or use the often-used ‘leading the base too early’ in earning a come-from-behind MVL extra-inning win over the visiting Troy Lady Trojans.
“It was a great game,” said Greenville coach Jerrod Newland. “Two good teams playing, and we give them their two losses every year. They win 20 games a year, and just a great team, great coach.”
The Lady Trojans, one of the better teams in the MVL and Miami Valley area, entered the night 20-6 (15-2) and took the Lady Wave to extra innings with both teams scoreless heading to the top of the eighth inning.
“Very rare to go seven scoreless innings before extra innings,” Newland noted. “Proud of the kids and grit.”
Troy got on the board in the top of the eighth with a leadoff infield single and a one-out double to left, plating the game’s first run of the night. Troy wasn’t done quite yet, collecting another hit, a single, and an intentional walk, loading the bases with one out.
Greenville freshman Ella Oswalt took matters into her own hands, striking out the last two Lady Trojans looking, bringing the Lady Wave to the plate for their final plate appearance of the night.
Greenville was looking at one out and none on, bringing Lady Wave sophomore Lizzie Shaffer to the plate to drill a ball to the deep right corner fence, with the speedy sophomore sliding safely into third with a one-out triple.
Next up for the Lady Wave, freshman shortstop Leah Force knocked a run-scoring double to center, plating Saffer with the game-tying run. Lily Brubaker stepped to the plate, driving a walk-off RBI single to right, scoring Force with the winning run and giving the Lady Wave an 18-0 perfect MVL season and the Miami Valley League Championship … again.
“Last inning, Liz steps up, Leah steps up, and Lil knocks it in, 2-1, Greenville,” Coach Newland said. “Lizzie and Leah both clutched up, and Lily walked it off – The Three L’s.”
“It’s great, gritty, makes us dig a little deeper,” Coach Newland added. “We have a couple of days, Wednesday at Mason and Friday, Miami East here. We’re getting better every day, today though we played a solid ‘B’ game and let the team hang. You can’t do that, but great teams find ways, and today Lady Wave Softball did it.”
Oswalt went the distance on the mound for the Lady Wave, pitching 8.0 innings, allowing 1 run, 6 hits, 2 walks while striking out 11.
Greenville’s Shaffer went 2-4 with a triple and a run scored; Zoey Burns was 2-4; Force went 1-4 with a double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored; Brubaker was 1-3 with a walk, 1 RBI; Kylar Arnett 1-4; Kendall Cromwell 1-4; Oswalt 1-4.
With the Lady Wave taking the MVL 18-0, they close out conference play outscoring their opponents 184-14, an outstanding scoreline.
“Just proud of the kids and the program and love where we’re at,” Newland concluded. “Big win today, 22-1 and finish the league 18-0, which is awesome … MVL, great league.”
BOX SCORE:
123 456 78 R H E
000 000 01 1 6 2 Troy
000 000 02 2 9 2 Greenville
