Spark Jump on Rise Early and Never Look Back in Dominant Semifinal Victory
First Inning Firepower Sparks OKC
Who will take on TC Colorado tomorrow? It would come down to the Rise and the Spark, two teams already familiar with each other this season. But tonight belonged to Oklahoma City.
The Spark wasted no time and fully embraced their “Be the Spark” mantra, chasing Laurin Krings out of the game in the very first inning.
Before an out could even be recorded, OKC had already scored four runs. Jayda Coleman led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to put the Spark up 1-0. After Jocelyn Alo reached on an error, Kinzie Hansen singled to put two on base. Alyssa Brito, swinging a hot bat this season, cleaned it all up with a three-run shot to center. Just like that, it was 4-0 Spark.
Krings made a quick exit and handed the ball over to Chenise Delce.
Penta Gets to Work While OKC Stays Hot
Maddie Penta got the start for OKC and opened the second by striking out Courtney Day with a nasty rise ball. Makena Smith would walk on five pitches to give the Rise a base runner, but she would be left stranded.
In the bottom half, the Spark picked up right where they left off. Jayda Coleman reached on a one-out single, and Jocelyn Alo followed with a blast, a two-run homer to center that stretched the lead to 6-0.
This OKC lineup is deep and dangerous. Pitching to them without making a mistake is a tall task.
The Rise Battle Back in the Third
The Rise showed some life in the third inning. Sophia Nugent led off with a single, and Kayla Wedl followed with another base hit to put two on with no outs.
Clemson rookie Alex Brown stepped up and came through with a two-RBI double to put the Rise on the board, 6-2.
Penta regrouped and struck out Lucas and Blampied in back-to-back at-bats, but the Rise weren’t finished just yet. Courtney Day added an infield RBI single to score Brown and trim the lead to 6-3.
Spark Respond Quickly
The Spark wasted no time answering back. Delce walked Haley Lee to open the third and gave up a single to Sydney Sherrill. Alynah Torres ripped a ball down the right field line to score Lee and extend the lead to 7-3.
Rachel Becker followed with a walk, and Sherrill scored on a Rylie Boone fielder’s choice. Pinch runner Michelle Moultrie, who entered for Torres, scored on a sacrifice fly from Coleman to make it 9-3 Spark.
Closing In on the Finish Line
Penta had to work a little in the fourth as Karli Spaid reached on a walk, but she bounced back and struck out Wedl looking to end the inning. Through four innings pitched, Penta allowed three runs on four hits, with two walks and four strikeouts.
OKC continued the pressure in the bottom of the fourth. Sherrill knocked a two-out double to left and scored on an RBI single from Moultrie to make it 10-3.
Coleman Ends It With a Catch
The Rise got a couple on base in the fifth, looking for any kind of spark, but Jayda Coleman shut the door with a terrific catch in center field on a deep fly from Makena Smith.
The Oklahoma City Spark won it 10-3, ending the game in five innings due to run rule. With the victory, OKC moves on to face TC Colorado for the TC Pro Cup Championship.
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