Late heroics help Phoenix get two wins

Oberlin used late-inning heroics to capture its first game, then used the momentum to win the second game.

In the season opener, the visiting Phoenix tied the game in the top of the seventh and again in the top of the ninth inning to secure a 4-3 win. In the second game, the offense broke out as they held off another late North Ridgeville rally to complete the sweep with an 8-6 win March 25.

“I think winning the first game was huge,” Oberlin coach Josie

Martin said. “We got a little bit down … but they were able to pull it back together and be mentally tough. They bounced back, which was great.

“I think this will give us some momentum … and push us in the right direction.”

Oberlin sophomore Bryanna Rivas used aggressive base-running to score the tying run in the top of the seventh inning.

In the top of the ninth, Rivas doubled and scored on Khalilah Wimbley’s single. Rivas shut down the Rangers in the bottom half to notch the win.

“Winning the first game of the season is pretty big for us,” Rivas said. “(I) had confidence in my teammates, playing hard and not getting discouraged (helped us).”

Rivas, who pitched both games, was the benefactor of the Phoenix three-run outburst in the top of the first inning, but the Rangers responded as they tied the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the third inning as Addison Mease got to third as her drive to right-center was mishandled. She scored on a wild pitch.

After Oberlin’s first two batters reached, Kiah Fields had an RBI single, which was followed by a Rivas sacrifice fly. With two outs, Wimbley (three RBI in the second game) singled. She scored on Mackenzie Tallaman’s (four hits in the second game) triple to give the Phoenix a 7-3 lead.

Trailing, 8-4, and down to their last three outs, the Rangers made things interesting. Hailey Gunvalsen lined a single to score Megan Knight and Mease. But Rivas recovered and struck out the next two batters to clinch the sweep.

Though the weather conditions weren’t ideal with a cold, mostly steady wind, Rivas was more than capable as she threw all 16 innings. Using a variety of pitches, Rivas worked her way to a pair of wins. Especially in the seventh inning of the second game when she found a little extra.

“I just wanted to win,” Rivas said. “I wanted to get (the team) another win for the season and I didn’t want to let them down. My riseball and my curveball were working along with my change-up.”

Mease had five hits for the Rangers and scored four times in the doubleheader. Gunvalsen along with Sedona Wingeier and Chloe Simko are all freshmen and pitched in the two games.

While the losses weren’t what North Ridgeville coach Mike Mease was hoping for, he was pleased with what his team showed.

“That’s one thing that we try to instill in the program is first pitch — last pitch,” Mease said. “Until the umpire calls the third out of that last inning, we still have an opportunity. It showed in both games.

“It was nice to get out and play games early on especially before we get into our conference play and seeing a pitcher like (Rivas), it will help us for what we will see later on.”