ALBANY — Stick around until the end, you never know what might happen on the diamond.
In a wild contest that saw the game go into extra innings, 19 runs scored in total with five of them coming in the final frame and a miraculous comeback from Alexander, the Spartans (5-10, 4-8 Tri-Valley Conference-Ohio) would grab a walk-off victory over Athens (10-6, 6-4 TVC-Ohio) with the final week of the regular season wrapping up.
The two teams would combine for 19 hits with nine total errors being committed in the barnburner.
Kaylee Hudnall would lead the charge offensively for the Spartans with a 2-4 day at the plate, scoring four runs while driving one in as well. Micaela Moat, Sarah Harris, Ava Tinkham and Darian Lallier would grab a hit and a run driven in each while Raegan Wandling also recorded a hit. Ellie Day would also drive in a run in the win.
Day would also pitch all eight innings in the circle for Alexander, allowing 12 hits and four earned runs, walking four while striking out three.
For the Bulldogs, Khyla Brannon would finish with a 3-5 day at the plate, scoring a pair of runs. Kendra Hammonds would drive in a pair of runs on two hits while Rylee Toadvine and Ellie Beck-Aden each grabbed two hits and a run drive in. Kayla Hammonds and Fern Sigman would each finish with a hit and an RBI while Chloe Hewitt also recorded a hit.
In the circle for Athens, Kendra Hammonds would get the start but last just 1.2 innings, allowing six runs, only one earned, on one hit while walking five and striking out three. Sigman would throw the final 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits, striking out five while not walking a batter.
The runs started early and often in Albany. Taking advantage of a pair of errors from the Spartans’ defense in the top of the first, an RBI single from Sigman would help charge a two-run inning for Athens.
Each team would then add one in the proceeding half-innings in part due to taking advantage of defensive mistakes, making it a 3-1 game going into the bottom of the second.
All with two outs, Alexander would take advantage of an error, two bases loaded walks, a hit by pitch and finally an RBI single from Tinkham to cap off a five-run frame, giving the Spartans a 6-3 lead heading into the third.
The two teams would then go scoreless over the next two frames before Athens was able to break the tie in the fifth. Following a leadoff single from Brannon, consecutive RBI doubles from Kendra Hammonds and Toadvine would help charge a four-run inning to retake the lead.
Alexander would eventually tie things up once again in the bottom of the sixth when Hudnall was able to swipe home on a wild pitch. The score would then stay stagnant until extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Brannon would lead off the frame with a single before an RBI triple to right-center from Kayla Hammonds gave Athens the slight lead. One batter later, Kendra Hammonds would single in her sister to give the Bulldogs some breathing room for the moment with no outs.
Alexander would eventually get out of the jam, giving them a slim glimmer of hope going up to the final at-bats. A glimmer is all the Spartans needed, and apparently three batters too.
After a double from Wandling to lead off the bottom of the eighth, Lallier would rip a triple past the left fielder to put the tying run at third with no outs. One batter later, Hudnall would line a single into right field but it would go past the defender, allowing the catcher to scamper all the way around the bases for the walk-off run to cap off the miraculous comeback.
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