Jonathan Ferris
Staff writer
Tuesday night featured two sororities fighting for a spot in the final four women’s softball teams. Alpha Gamma Delta entered the contest as the overwhelming favorite, hoping to continue an undefeated season and march on through the playoffs.
Alpha Omicron Pi, the ninth seed, was looking for another big upset coming off a huge victory over a 4-2 Alpha Sigma Alpha team who defeated them by 10 runs earlier in the season.
As the game began, both sides brought large spirited fan bases to cheer them on.
AGD proved they were the favorite with a two run double off the bat of Whitney Gardner in the top of the first. Another infield single and a fielding error brought around two more runs for the Gammas, giving them a 4-0 lead after AOII went down one-two-three to end the first.
In the second inning, the No. 1 seed extended their score after an Emily Bebout bases loaded double and another fielding error, Alpha Gamma Delta would take a commanding 8-0 lead.
However, AOII would not go down easily. The underdog fought back in the bottom of the second. An Aimee Beasley double brought in their first run. Another one run single inched the girls closer and brought the score to 8-2.
After throwing out a Gamma runner at home in the Third, AOII would continue their comeback smacking a one run single followed by a two run double. An additional fielding error by the Gams would bring AOII to within two runs.
With the bases load and two outs, Hannah Ramsey would deliver a clutch two run double and tie the score at eight after three innings of play, erasing the Gams’ once dominating lead.
With the crowds growing ever louder, defense by both teams resulted in a scoreless fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth with the score still tied at eight, Alpha Omicron Pi took their first lead off another Aimee Beasley RBI. Only needing to hold on for three more outs to complete the upset, AOII took the field for the top half of the sixth.
The powerhouse Gammas brought the bats when it counted. Needing at least one run to extend the game, the girls hit three consecutive singles to start off the inning. With the bases loaded and no one out, pitcher Stephanie Green hit a deep sacrifice fly to left center, tying the game. With the Gamma crowd cheering, Lacey Walker followed up with another sac fly to give the Gams a 10-9 lead.
Green would seal the Gamma’s place in the final four, sitting down the AOII batters in order and winning the tightly contested battle 10-9.
Team Captain Whitney Gardner talked about her team after the game.
“We just stuck together, even though we made errors, we just kept going,” Gardner said.
She also spoke of the pressure of the playoffs.
“We were all a little nervous with this being our first playoff game,” Gardner said, “but I think we put those worries aside and played well. (Wednesday) night we play for the championship, and were just going to relax and go for it.”
Wednesday night will bring the final two games of the season.
“We just have to keep playing the same,” Gardner said. “We can’t change anything for the championship if we want to win. Just got to keep the momentum going.”
Alpha Gamma Delta will play for the championship along with the other three remaining teams for the women’s softball championship.