| Texas-Tyler had a lot to
celebrate with a walk-off win to advance in the 2013 NCAA D-III
Softball Championship. Texas-Tyler photo by Ryan Coleman |
Texas-Tyler found its offensive stroke in the fifth inning with back-to-back home runs but it was Carli Wheeler's single in the eighth inning that made the Patriots 5-4 winners over the Central Dutch at the NCAA D-III Softball Championships.
It was not easy for the Patriots. Central opened the scoring with two runs in the fourth. With runners on first and second, Annie Sarcone's single appeared to bring in the first run but on appeal, Emily Te Brink was called out for missing third base. The reprieve for the Patriots were short-lived as Rhianna Fleetwood single to right made it 2-0 Dutch.
Texas-Tyler scored four times in the fifth. Raven Rodriguez and Rachel Howell singled and jogged home on Whitney Burt's first home run of the season. Joey Cronin followed with a solo shot that gave Texas-Tyler a 4-2 lead.
The Dutch evened the score in the sixth. Whitney Sowers and Fleetwood reached base via safeties and Caitlyn Meyer walked to load the bases. Chelsea Greiner followed up with a two run single for a tie ball game.
"Thats the way we have been all year," said Central head coach George Wares. "We are pretty aggressive and I had no doubt that we would come back."
The score remained tied until Carli Wheeler's walk-off hit. Heather Abshire led off the eighth with an infield single and was moved into scoring position by a sacrifice by Howell. Three batters later it was Wheeler stepping into the box to end the game in the Patriots' favor.
We struggled early with our bats," said Texas-Tyler hed coach Mike Reed. "With back-to-back home runs, we were able to relax a bit, and start hitting like we are accustomed to."
Texas-Tyler (46-5) will play the winner of Cortland and Luther in the first game on Sunday. Central is eliminated after two losses and ends its season at 32-10.