New York Rise Drop the Rubber Match in Game Three Loss to the Oklahoma City Spark 6-3
Nick Mongiovi
Hofstra University Reporter
The New York Rise fell to the Oklahoma City Spark in the final game of their three-game set 6-3, on Thursday, July 18. The Rise fell to (5-7), as they dropped their third straight series. The Spark improved to (10-1) in the win.
The struggles continued in this one as they lost their seventh game out of their last nine. Oklahoma City got on the board early with a two-run first inning. Rylie Boone led off with a single to center field. With one out in the inning, Kinzie Hansen launched a no-doubt home run over the wall in left to put the Spark infront 2-0.
“They’re a very good hitting team, we only had one error and they hit the ball. We didn’t beat ourselves, they beat us again.”
“They [OKC Spark] jumped on us a little early,” said New York Rise head coach Rodney “Crash” McCray. “They’re a very good hitting team, we only had one error and they hit the ball. We didn’t beat ourselves, they beat us again.”
A leadoff bunt single by Boone and a fielding error by Rise second baseman Sami Williams set up runners on first and second with nobody out in the third. With the runners on the corners and one out, Alynah Torres knocked in Boone from third on a sacrifice fly and Chloe Moultrie advanced to third on the throw home. Yvonne Whaley capped off the two-run third inning with an RBI double to left that scored Moultrie from third, giving the Spark a commanding 4-1 lead.
The New York Rise were outhit 10-to-four, but they didn’t record their first hit of the game until there were two outs in the third inning when Jenna Laird doubled off the wall in center field. McCray talked about the inconsistencies of their offense during the postgame interview.
“We had baserunners, we had opportunities, we just didn’t have that big, key hit.”
“We had a triple play [against the Rise in the fourth inning] that didn’t help – that’s deflating,” McCray said. “We had baserunners, we had opportunities, we just didn’t have that big, key hit.”
Coach McCray has stressed the importance of making contact all season long, even if it’s not considered good contact. Putting the bat on the ball and making the defense make a play can give your team a better chance to win instead of keeping that bat on your shoulder.
“We have to stay short to the ball,” McCray said. “We didn’t have many strike outs and if we keep that up we’ll be fine.
The Rise mounted a small comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough to force extra innings. Williams started the inning off with a single to the shortstop. Nicole Mendes worked a walk with one out and Linnie Malkin advanced both runners into scoring position with a 1-3 ground out. Riley Blampied cut the deficit in half with a two-RBI single to right field, as they trailed 6-3.
The New York Rise are back in action on Friday, July 19 against the Chattanooga Steam. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. in a three-game series that if won by the Rise could give them some much needed momentum before the playoffs begin on Tuesday, July 23.
