Score:
Williams 9, East Texas Baptist 10
Location: Marshall, TX
Records: Williams 26-13; East Texas Baptist 43-2
The Short Story:
The Ephs played a hard fought game against a strong East Texas Baptist University team. The Ephs led the Tigers 4-0 through five innings, thanks to a stellar pitching performance by Katie Blanch. The team also put up an excellent offensive display led by Ronni Ramos, who went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a two-RBI double and Justine Dunaway who hit a grand slam in the final inning of the game to close the gap from 5-10 to 9-10. Despite their late-game rally in the 7th inning, the Ephs were unable to clinch the win.
Nevertheless, the Ephs' season was marked by remarkable achievements, winning both the NESCAC Championship and the NCAA Regional Championship titles. The team's success was further highlighted by five individual players earning All-NESCAC honors. Pitchers Katie Blanch and Sadie Leonard were named to the First Team All-NESCAC, with Blanch also receiving the NESCAC Rookie of the Year award and Leonard being honored as the NESCAC Pitcher of the Year. Additionally, Sydney Fleming, Kelly McGuigan, and Tayler Wise earned Second Team All-NESCAC recognition for their outstanding performances throughout the season.
How it Happened
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Katie Blanch, had an exceptional start in the circle, showcasing excellent command over the first 5 innings by inducing ground outs and fly outs. Blanch went 5 scoreless innings where she allowed only 2 base hits during that stretch.
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The Ephs' offense came alive in the bottom of the 3rd. After Kayla Chang walked, Kelly McGuigan singled to center, and Sydney Fleming was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Ronni Ramos then smacked a 2-RBI double down the left field line, scoring Chang and McGuigan. Vicky Trujillo Balderas followed with a single down the left field line, driving in Ramos and Fleming to make it 4-0 in favor of the Ephs.
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In the top of the 6th, the Tigers got on the board after a batter doubled, stole third, and scored on an RBI single to left field. They continued to chip away, with a single down the left field line plating 2 more runs, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Elyse Chan relieved Blanch after ETBU's offensive push.
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The Tigers tied the game in the top of the 6th on an RBI double to right-center field and took the lead on an RBI single to left-center. Tristen Maddox, the Tiger's top hitter, then hit a 2-RBI homer to left-center, and Tauryn Cummings hit another 2-RBI homer to left field made it 4-9 Tigers, capping a 9-run inning. Katie Blanch re-entered and retired the side with a ground out.
- Sadie Leonard entered the game in the final inning. The Tigers scored their 10th and final run of the game in the top of the 7th after a bases-loaded walk that scored a run. Katie Blanch then re-entered the game after the run and retired the side with a ground out.
- Williams chipped away at their deficit in the 7th inning, with Katie Blanch driving in Kelly McGuigan on a fielder's choice, making the score 5-9.
- With two outs and Alysa DeQuiroz on first, Katie Blanch on second, and Kaia Glickman on third, J. Dunaway crushed a grand slam home run to left field, scoring all three runners in a rally to pull Williams within a run of the Tigers, 9-10.
