Oklahoma City was Hot with Dominant Win Over New York
Spark Comes Out Swinging
The Oklahoma City Spark and the New York Rise came into this evening after last night’s intense pitcher’s duel that ended with a walk-off walk to Alyssa Brito. That gave the Spark a 2-1 win to open the series. Today though, it was a completely different story.
The Spark found their rhythm right away and immediately asserted their dominance. Meghan Golden was solid from the jump, retiring the Rise in order in the top of the first. Even after starting with a 3-0 count to Alex Brown, she battled back and Brown was retired on a bunt attempt.
After that she struck out Riley Blampied and Courtney Day flew out to center. That momentum carried straight into the bottom half as the Spark offense caught fire.
Delce Gets Jumped On Early
Chenise Delce didn’t make it out of the first inning or even record an out.
Jayda Coleman led things off with a walk, and Alyssa Brito followed with a double to push her to third. Then came the swing that set the tone. Jocelyn Alo, the known Home Run Queen, absolutely crushed a Delce pitch over the wall for a three-run blast, her first of the season.
The Spark weren’t done yet. Kinzie Hansen stepped up and launched a solo shot of her own to make it 4-0. That would be it for Delce, who struggled with command and fell into patterns that Oklahoma City took full advantage of.
Former Missouri Tiger Laurin Krings came in and calmed things down, retiring the next three batters, but the damage was done.
Golden Shuts the Door
Karli Spaid tried to spark some life for New York with a leadoff single to begin the second, but Golden responded by getting three fly outs to erase the threat. Oklahoma City added on in the bottom half after Rachel Becker reached on a one-out single and eventually scored on a Brito sac fly to push it to 5-0.
Golden stayed in control all night, staying sharp with her mix and keeping Rise hitters off balance. Outside of a couple scattered hits, New York couldn’t generate much of anything offensively.
Small Ball and Miscues Add Up
In the third, Hansen led off with a single up the middle and would later score on a sac fly by Haley Lee to stretch the lead to 6-0. Then came a key mistake. After Moultrie reached base, Sophia Nugent tried to throw her out stealing, but the throw sailed into center field allowing Lee to score and make it 7-0.
It felt like the Spark were on their way to ending it by the fifth, and they didn’t disappoint.
Walk-Off Blast Caps It
After a quiet fourth inning that saw some nice defensive work, as Sydney Sherrill and Rachel Becker turned a 5-4-3 double play, Oklahoma City finished the job one inning later. Kinzie Hansen led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, and KK Madrey came in to pinch run. Then, Haley Lee stepped up and delivered the final blow with a walk-off two-run homer to make it 9-0 and end things in run-rule fashion.
The top half of the fifth also featured a flash of leather from Alyssa Brito, who made a diving catch in center field to help preserve the shutout.
Oklahoma City came in today with a clear mission, and that was to take control and help their Golden out in her debut, and it worked. Early offense and great defensive work behind Golden’s pitching gave the Spark everything needed to race to a fast win.
Golden Earns First Win in Pro Debut
The Spark improved to 2-0 on the season, and it was a debut to remember for Meghan Golden. The rookie out of Grand Canyon University was poised, composed, and in control all game. She earned her first professional win and showed that she belongs on this stage.
Featured Image Courtesy of OKC Spark
