CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Late heroics by Kiley Spencer and alert base running by Georgia Arnold propelled the Carl Junction softball team to a 7-6 walk-off win over Bolivar Thursday at Carl Junction High School.
Carl Junction, which logged its fourth straight win, started hot with a lead-off triple by speedy Jazmyne Blaney in the bottom of the first. Blaney later scored on a Ryleigh Palmer sacrifice fly to center field. The Bulldogs made it 2-0 when Spencer smacked a line drive single to right field that plated Kadence Hunt.
Bolivar’s Brylea Tosh stole home on a throw to first after a dropped third strike to tighten the game at 2-1 in the top of the fourth.
Carl Junction extended its lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Spencer pated Blaney and Hunt with a single to center field, but Bolivar’s Cydny Wolhoy scored on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth to pull the Liberators closer at 4-2.
Bolivar (7-9) took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh. Aubrey Gonzales scored on a wild pitch and the Liberators took a 5-4 lead when Aubrey Funk drove in Carly Cribbs and Wolhoy with a double to center field. Bolivar extended its lead to 6-4 off a Makayla Methvin sacrifice that scored Funk.
Spencer stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the frame and slammed a two-run no-doubter over the center field fence, plating Kinley Spindler and tying the game at 6-6 with two outs.
“I was really confident in myself when it came to doing my job, and I went up there and executed,” Spencer said. “I was pretty excited and pumped up because I knew that was the tying run and I knew that we were going to come back as soon as I got that one over.”
Carl Junction head coach Amanda Bauer talked about what Spencer brings to the team.
“She’s very clutch,” Bauer said. “All of our kids are, actually, But we knew we were right where we needed to be in the lineup so far as placement and who we needed at the plate.”
Carl Junction walked it off after Arnold scooted home on a Bolivar error.
Spencer led Carl Junction at the plate after going 3 for 4 with five RBIs and a run. Blaney was 2 for 4 with two runs.
In the circle, Spencer gave up six runs on six hits while striking out six and walking six in the compete game win.
Funk led Bolivar after finishing 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run.
Methvin surrendered three earned runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking one in 6 2/3 innings.
“They are a tough team and we knew we that we had a tough challenge coming into tonight,” Bauer said. “We knew we had to stick with our game plan, and the girls did just that. I’m proud of them, and it was a big win for us.”
On Monday, Carl Junction (12-4) will travel to Carthage.
