The Spark Knew They Were In Trouble as They Drop Game Two to the Rise 12-7
Nick Mongiovi
Hofstra University Reporter
The New York Rise exploded for 12 runs in their 12-7 win against the Oklahoma City Spark on Tuesday, July 16, handing them their first loss of the season. The Rise improved to (5-6) while the Spark fell to (9-1).
Ashley Trierweiler started her four-for-four day with a ground ball single up the middle in the bottom of the first. Alex Honnold knotted the score up at 1-1 with an RBI double to center field. Makena Smith brought the thunder with a two-run blast over the left field wall to give the New York Rise a 3-1 lead ahead of the rain and lightning delay.
The bats stayed hot for the Rise in the second as they put up a four-spot in the inning. Riley Blampied ledoff with a single throught the right side. After Trierweiler moved Blampied over to second with a sacrifice bunt, Jenna Laird singled to center and advanced to second on the long throw home.
With one out in the inning, Honnold walked to load the bases for Smith, who also worked a walk to extend the team’s lead to 4-1. Sami Williams smacked a line drive double into right center, scoring Laird and Honnold to give the New York Rise a 6-1 lead. Carolina Wang capped off the big inning with an RBI single to put the Rise in front 7-1.
Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Rise were 1-6 in their last seven and struggled to score runs. New York Rise head coach Rodney “Crash” McCray weighed in on what was clicking for his team offensively in the win.
“We put the ball in play and our offense got jumping again.”
“We put the ball in play and our offense got jumping again,” McCray said. “They had batting practice today and I guess it worked.”
Oklahoma City battled back in the fourth with a five-run inning. Sydney Sherrill led off the top of the frame with a solo shot to left. After a single from Michelle Moultrie and a walk from Rachel Becker, Haley Lee smacked a three-run home run over the wall in left to cut the deficit to 9-5. Former Oklahoma Sooner Kinzie Hansen tripled to center, continuing to apply the pressure on the Rise. With two outs in the inning, Yvonne Whaley singled up the middle to cap off the five-run inning and trailed only by three runs, 9-6 .
Trierweiler launched her second home run of the evening with a three-run shot to right field, which gave the New York Rise a commanding 12-6 lead. Trierweiler and Smith combined for six hits, eight RBI and three home runs. Coach McCray talked about how they can build off this type of offensive explosion as a team and stay consistent the rest of the way.
“The top of the order has been consistent, we just have to get a little bit more contact from the bottom half of the order,” McCray said.
Throughout the entire contest, Rise third baseman Makena Smith was very vocal and made sure she was both cheering on her starter while also giving her words of encouragement.
“She’s [Makena Smith] a leader, she has high energy and passion,” McCray said. “They all have energy and they feed off each other’s passion. They want to win…she’s a leader on the field and in the clubhouse.”
The New York Rise are back in action for the rubbermatch against the Oklahoma City Spark on Thursday, July 18. First pitch is at noon.
