BETHANY – Bethany sophomore Ella Davis’ seventh-inning grand slam against the OKC Broncos Monday (Sept. 30) salvaged a doubleheader split for the Lady Bronchos after earlier losing to 3A power Perry on the final day of the regular season.

“Overall, we did not have a great day but to overcome that in the last few innings says a lot about our team’s fight and determination,” Bethany coach Booker Blakley said via text. “We need to help out our pitchers in the field a little bit more than we did. But, overall an exciting win to get us ready for Wednesday.”

PERRY 9, BETHANY 2

Perry won its eight straight game, taking advantage of three Bethany errors.

The Lady Bronchos broke a scoreless tie in the third inning on a 2-run double from sophomore Jules Barger. The hit scored senior Ireland Riley and junior Madison Bibbs, who each singled with two outs.

Perry took a 3-2 lead in the fourth with two doubles and two singles.

An error in the fifth expanded Perry’s lead to 4-2.

In the sixth inning, three hits and another Bethany error scored five runs to make it 9-2.

Barger went 2-for-3 with the Lady Bronchos’ only extra-base hit. Riley, Bibbs and junior Paige Sechrist each had a hit.

Junior Jayda Davis took the loss in relief. Of the nine runs she allowed, only three were earned runs.

BETHANY 12, OKC BRONCOS 8

Ella Davis capped off a five-run seventh inning for the walkoff win.

Bethany trailed 8-7 going into the final inning. Sophomore Grey Williamson junior Alyssa Daniels and Sechrist each hit singles to load the bases. Junior Berkley Johnson walked on four pitches to score Williamson, tying the game at 8-8.

OKC Broncos re-inserted starter senior Tristan Idett into the game.

Davis sent the 1-1 pitch over the left field wall to seal the win.

“Very excited for Ella, she’s been in and out of the lineup and for her to come into this game and deliver like she did speaks highly to her,” Blakley said. “Having contributions like that will help make a difference come playoff time.”

OKC Broncos took a 3-0 lead after two innings.

Bethany scored two in the fourth on a Sechrist RBI single (scoring Williamson) and a sacrifice fly by Johnson (scoring Daniels).

The Broncos scored five runs in the fifth on four singles, an error and a hit by pitch for an 8-2 lead.

Bethany answered in the bottom half of the inning with five runs. Williamson highlighted the inning with a 2-run triple to left field. Daniels scored Williamson with a single.

After Sechrist hit into a fielder’s choice, Johnson singled. Ella Davis singled both in to cut the deficit to 8-7.

In the final two innings, Sechrist worked around a Bronco hit and two Bethany errors to keep the game 8-7 before Bethany’s big inning.

Ella Davis finished 3-for-4 with six runs batted in. Williamson was also 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Sechrist was also 3-for-4. Daniels added a 4-for-4 day.

In all, the Lady Bronchos produced 16 hits in the win.

In the circle, Sechrist struck out four batters in five innings of relief.

UP NEXT

Bethany (16-16) opens the 4A Regional playoffs in Cache Wednesday (Oct. 2) at noon against Ada (9-17). The winner of that game plays at 4 p.m. while the loser plays at 2 p.m.

The other two teams in the Regional are host Cache (17-17) and Classen S.A.S. (4-19).

Photographs courtesy of Kristie Escoe of Life in Action Photography.

PERRY 9, BETHANY 2

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Perry (30-6)	0	0	0	3	1	5	0	9	7	1
Bethany (15-16)	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	5	3

BETHANY 12, OKC BRONCOS 8

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
OKC Broncos (18-12)	1	2	0	0	5	0	0	8	10	0
Bethany (16-16)	0	0	0	2	5	0	5	12	16	4