WOODWARD – Bethany whittled away at Woodward’s lead Tuesday (Aug. 20) and took the lead with a four-run fifth inning. However, the Bronchos couldn’t hold the lead and the Boomers won on a walkoff infield single in the eighth inning, 10-9.

The Lady Bronchos (3-5) trailed 6-1 after two innings. Bethany responded with two runs in the third highlighted by a triple from junior Madison Bibbs and a double from sophomore Grey Williamson. Each team scored a run in the fourth inning. Bethany got its run on an error, bringing home junior Emma Buxton.

Sophomore Jules Barger led off the big inning with a double then stole third base and home. Juniors Paige Sechrist and Berkley Johnson both reached on an errors. Williamson singled to load the bases. Sophomore Ella Davis walked in a run to make it 7-6.

Sophomore Emma Geissler singled in Johnson to tie the game at 7-7. Senior Ireland Riley grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Williamson and Bethany had an 8-7 lead.

The Lady Bronchos added a run in the sixth in a wild fashion. Barger was put out at home but Sechrist stole third and home to extend the lead to 9-7.

Undefeated Woodward kept coming, however. The Boomer scored lone runs in sixth and seventh to send the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, Woodward’s Bryleigh Douglas-Fischer tripled to right field. Douglas-Fischer moved around the bases on subsequent batters but was thrown out at home by Williamson for the first out. Kayleigh Mills, who was intentionally walked after the triple, scored on an single to third base by JoElla Waggoner to seal the win.

“I’m proud of the way that we battled back from an early deficit,” Bethany coach Booker Blakley said. “We have to be able to start the game the right way in order not to put ourselves behind the eight ball.”

Barger went 3-for-5 with three doubles in the loss. Both Williamson and Geissler went 2-for-4.

Blakley praised Barger, saying she “really stepped it up.”

Junior Jayda Davis picked up the loss after relieving Sechrist. Davis struck out six batters in four innings of work.

Blakley said that Davis “did a fine job in relief and gave us a chance to win.”

UP NEXT

Bethany will play in the Oklahoma High School Fast Pitch Festival at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex Thursday through Saturday (Aug. 22-24).

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	R	H	E
Bethany (3-5)	0	1	2	1	4	1	0	0	9	10	4
Woodward (8-0)	3	3	0	1	0	1	1	1	10	13	4