Jessica Schuler pitches 13-8 upset over No.3 Barnsdall and hits Grand Slam
/By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (8-5) dealt the 2A No. 3 Barnsdall Lady Panthers (23-4) only their fourth loss this season in a back-and-forth shootout that saw a combined nine home runs between the two teams, including a grand slam by Lady Sandite pitcher Jessica Schuler (5-2).
Schuler, a Northeastern State University signee, scored 6 RBI on two home runs while pitching 12 hits, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout for the win. Schuler leads her team in home runs this season, having scored 12 over 13 games, and is the only player to hit a grand slam.
The Lady Panthers boasted several impressive sluggers of their own, including Ciara McCabe who gave her team the first run of the game on a homer in the first inning.
Junior Jessica Collins retaliated for the Lady Sandites, smacking a double to score Sydney Pennington and Kellie Johnson in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 lead.
Barnsdall reclaimed their lead in the top of the third on a home run from Maria Quesada, followed by a homer from Alyssa Babb that scored Courtney Berry for the 4-2 advantage.
Sand Springs had an explosive inning in the third, kicked off by a double from Pennington to score Presnell. Schuler hit her first homer of the evening to score Pennington, Cameron Clemons singled in Collins, and Jacie Taber doubled to score Rachel Blair. The Panthers stranded one in the fourth and Sand Springs came back in to make it 8-4 on a home run by Pennington.
In the top of the fifth, Babb batted in Bailey Walker and Cecilia Jones on loaded bases, then McCabe and Jasmine Shores hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth to tie the game up.
The Lady Sandites put it away in the bottom of the inning, however, as Schuler sent one over the fence for a grand slam, scoring Taber, Salyers, and Pennington. Collins followed it up with a first pitch home run and Schuler pitched a no-hitter in the top of the seventh to secure the victory.
Sand Springs has just three game days left before Regionals. This Thursday they'll play a double-header at Sapulpa (5-11) with the first game beginning at 4:30 pm.
