Spokane Sweeps Doubleheader at Columbia Basin Behind Late-Inning Heroics and Dominant Pitching
Spokane softball put together a complete day on the road, sweeping Columbia Basin in a doubleheader on April 4 with an 11-7 extra-inning win in game one followed by a 2-1 pitching duel victory in game two.
Game 1: Spokane 11, Columbia Basin 7 (11 innings)
Spokane outlasted Columbia Basin in a back-and-forth battle that required extra innings, using a four-run explosion in the 11th to secure the win.
The Sasquatch came out strong early, jumping ahead 2-0 in the first inning behind a two-RBI triple from Phoebe Holm. Zoie Maughan added a solo home run in the fourth, and Spokane built a 7-2 lead through five innings thanks to timely hitting and aggressive baserunning.
Columbia Basin answered late, tying the game at 7-7 in the seventh inning after a three-run frame capped by a two-run home run.
After three scoreless extra innings, Spokane broke through in the 11th. Maughan delivered an RBI single to give Spokane the lead, and Emma Oergel followed with a clutch two-RBI double. Rachel Nebeker capped the inning with another RBI double, pushing the lead to 11-7.
Oergel led the offense with four RBIs, while Maughan added two RBIs and three runs scored.
In the circle, Samantha Rensvold picked up the win, while Cassy Seifert was dominant in relief, striking out 11 over five innings to keep Spokane in position for the late surge.
Game 2: Spokane 2, Columbia Basin 1
Game two was a completely different story, as Spokane relied on elite pitching and timely execution to secure the sweep.
Spokane plated a run in the second inning when Emma Oergel reached on an error, scoring Phoebe Holm, and added what proved to be the game-winning run in the third when Samantha Rensvold came home on a wild pitch.
Columbia Basin responded with a run in the third, but that would be all they could muster against Seifert.
Seifert was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing just three hits and striking out 12. She kept Columbia Basin off balance all game, shutting the door over the final four innings.
Spokane managed just four hits offensively but made them count, capitalizing on opportunities and limiting mistakes defensively in the tight contest.
Key Performers
Emma Oergel – 3-for-9, 5 RBI across both games
Zoie Maughan – HR, 3 runs scored, clutch go-ahead RBI in extras
Cassy Seifert – 12 K in Game 2 CG; 11 K in relief in Game 1
Phoebe Holm – 3-for-8, 2 RBI, 3B