Wise, Georgetown Play Historic 15-inning Game
May 02, 2013
Story by Jenny Elder, Georgetown Sports Information
KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- Georgetown (Ky.) softball etched its name in history Monday at the Mid-South Conference (MSC) softball tournament. The Tigers and UVa-Wise played an epic 15-inning game (that is two full games and an inning), which marks the fourth longest in NAIA history and longest in the MSC tournament. GC came out on top 6-5 with an RBI single from freshman Sandy Young to score senior Hillary Plain.
The two-plus game saw a seventh inning rally by the Tigers. Senior Mallory Johnson singled and an error on fielding the ball allowed Marissa Massie, running for Shelby Engle, to score the tying run.
Massie had the best line of the day after the second set of seven innings was over and both teams were headed into the 15th.
“The third game is all Georgetown,” the freshman said with a smile.
She proved to be right as senior Katie Mann worked out of a one-out double to keep the game at 5-5. Plain then started the inning by reaching on an error. Senior Madelyn Brown advanced her with a sacrifice bunt, all setting the stage for a two-out single from Young.
Mann came in during the third inning to relieve starter Kayla Williams. She threw 12 and a third innings, scattering nine hits and allowing just one run. She struck out three, twice ending Wise innings with a strikeout, and threw 189 pitches.
Rachel Hawks was a warrior in the circle for the Cavs. She threw 229 pitches in 14 and two-thirds innings with five strikeouts and six runs, only two earned.
“In some ways I thought that game would never end,” said GC coach Thomas Thornton. “Our seniors were such leaders through the whole game. I am so proud of everyone. I tip my hat to both teams.
“We just were not going to lose that game. We put ourselves in a hole early, but showed a lot of heart and fight.”
Wise jumped out to a quick lead, scoring two in the top of the first. Georgetown had its first rally to get one run back in the bottom half. Both teams scored two runs in the third and a run in the fourth for a 5-4 game.
Engle and Mann each had three hits, while Chelsea Riney and Young added two each. Johnson had two RBIs as did Mann. Emily Snow and Young had one each. Riney scored twice, while Engle, Massie, Plain and Brown each scored once.
The Cavs stranded 14 runners to GC’s 13.
This game sits behind 19 innings between Lindenwood (Mo.) and William Jewell (Mo.) in 2011, an 18-inning affair between Rio Grande (Ohio) and Cedarville (Ohio) in 2003 and a 16-inning game between Cumberlands (Ky.) and Campbellsville (Ky.) in 2006.
The UC and CU game makes Georgetown’s battle with Wise the second longest between two MSC schools, but it is the longest for the league tournament.
KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- Georgetown (Ky.) softball etched its name in history Monday at the Mid-South Conference (MSC) softball tournament. The Tigers and UVa-Wise played an epic 15-inning game (that is two full games and an inning), which marks the fourth longest in NAIA history and longest in the MSC tournament. GC came out on top 6-5 with an RBI single from freshman Sandy Young to score senior Hillary Plain.
The two-plus game saw a seventh inning rally by the Tigers. Senior Mallory Johnson singled and an error on fielding the ball allowed Marissa Massie, running for Shelby Engle, to score the tying run.
Massie had the best line of the day after the second set of seven innings was over and both teams were headed into the 15th.
“The third game is all Georgetown,” the freshman said with a smile.
She proved to be right as senior Katie Mann worked out of a one-out double to keep the game at 5-5. Plain then started the inning by reaching on an error. Senior Madelyn Brown advanced her with a sacrifice bunt, all setting the stage for a two-out single from Young.
Mann came in during the third inning to relieve starter Kayla Williams. She threw 12 and a third innings, scattering nine hits and allowing just one run. She struck out three, twice ending Wise innings with a strikeout, and threw 189 pitches.
Rachel Hawks was a warrior in the circle for the Cavs. She threw 229 pitches in 14 and two-thirds innings with five strikeouts and six runs, only two earned.
“In some ways I thought that game would never end,” said GC coach Thomas Thornton. “Our seniors were such leaders through the whole game. I am so proud of everyone. I tip my hat to both teams.
“We just were not going to lose that game. We put ourselves in a hole early, but showed a lot of heart and fight.”
Wise jumped out to a quick lead, scoring two in the top of the first. Georgetown had its first rally to get one run back in the bottom half. Both teams scored two runs in the third and a run in the fourth for a 5-4 game.
Engle and Mann each had three hits, while Chelsea Riney and Young added two each. Johnson had two RBIs as did Mann. Emily Snow and Young had one each. Riney scored twice, while Engle, Massie, Plain and Brown each scored once.
The Cavs stranded 14 runners to GC’s 13.
This game sits behind 19 innings between Lindenwood (Mo.) and William Jewell (Mo.) in 2011, an 18-inning affair between Rio Grande (Ohio) and Cedarville (Ohio) in 2003 and a 16-inning game between Cumberlands (Ky.) and Campbellsville (Ky.) in 2006.
The UC and CU game makes Georgetown’s battle with Wise the second longest between two MSC schools, but it is the longest for the league tournament.
