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Loading...The Murray Spartans scored seven runs in the fifth inning on Wednesday to come from behind and defeat the Tooele Buffaloes 12-10 in softball action at Salt Lake Community College.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, the Tooele fielders did not throw out runners on second or third base on a ball hit in the infield, and Murray took advantage as the base runners kept moving after one run scored. The Lady Buffs threw it home but the runner was safe for a second run scored on the at-bat. That started the rally with Tooele leading 10-7.
A passed ball and two base hits later, the game was tied at 10. Finally, the final hit was a triple that scored two runs, and the game was called after the at-bat because of darkness.
“I think the key factor was this was our first time being outside,” Tooele coach Melanie Nelson said. “It showed defensively, which is where it naturally would show. Those are things that we can correct as we get outside and get back in the swing of things.”
Nelson said she’s happy with the team’s offensive output and for putting themselves in a position to win the game despite the late collapse.
“I couldn’t be happier with how we hit today,” she said. “I give Murray credit for sticking in it and never giving up. That’s a tough thing to do.”
The Lady Buffs built the lead to 10-5, which was highlighted by a solo home run from senior catcher Kit Olney in the top of the fifth inning. She blasted it opposite field over the rightfield wall for Tooele’s final run.
Olney went 2-for-3 in the game with 3 RBIs. The Lady Buffs got started right away with a big first inning. They scored six runs in that first inning and kept the Spartans off the board until the bottom of the second inning.
The Spartans scored four runs in the second inning and one in the third inning to top the first of their two rallies on the day. As Nelson mentioned, most of the Spartans’ runs came from errors defensively by the Lady Buffs.
Junior pitcher Lauren Frailey suffered an injury before the game and did not start. Nelson said she still needs to be seen by the doctor so the extent of the injury is still uncertain. The Lady Buffs next play Friday at Riverton. These two schools last played against one another since March 11, 2011. Riverton won that game 5-2 in Tooele.
Following that matchup, the Lady Buffs head to St. George on March 15 to play five games in three days.
