A grueling pitchers’ duel, nine scoreless innings, a go-ahead run in the top of the 10th, and a come-from-behind win in the bottom of the inning.
It all happened in a state quarterfinal softball game between No. 3 seed Smyrna and No. 6 seed Archmere on Tuesday, June 1 at Smyrna High’s Jo Carter Field.
Smyrna’s Chelsea Botsch and Archmere’s Rachel Gillen both turned in dominant pitching performances as the game remained scoreless through two extra innings.
The tension mounted in the 10th inning as the international tiebreaker rule took effect and each team began its at-bat with a runner on second base.
The Auks finally scored the game’s first run with two outs in the top of the 10th. On a bunt play, Smyrna’s throw deflected off the Archmere player running to first, allowing another Auks base runner to cross home plate and break the tie.
But that run wasn’t the game winner.
Knowing it was time to score or go home, the Eagles kept their season alive.
Smyrna’s Jackie Jenkins started on second base and advanced to third on Botsch’s sacrifice bunt.
Jenkins sprinted home and scored the tying run after a pitch got past the Archmere catcher.
The Eagles weren’t done yet, though. Smyrna put another runner on base when Chelcey Tyre safely advanced to first on a bunt.
A key moment in the game occurred later in the inning, when Tyre attempted to steal second with two outs.
Archmere’s errant throw to second base bounced into the outfield as Tyre slid into the bag. Seizing the opportunity, Tyre ran safely to third.
With Tyre on third and two outs in the inning, Smyrna’s Courtney Carter knew she could win the game if she could deliver a hit.
“I knew all I needed to do was bring her home,” said Carter after the game.
Carter knocked a ball toward second base, Tyre ran home, and Carter sprinted toward first base and beat out the throw to end the game.
“I just knew I had to score for my team,” said Tyre, a senior, after scoring the game-winning run in the Eagles’ 2-1 victory.
“It’s my senior year,” she said. “I want to go out with a bang.”
Smyrna’s state tournament win over Archmere was strikingly similar to a regular season game played between the two teams back on April 30 at Archmere.
That was another 10-inning game, which the Auks won 1-0 in the international tiebreaker.
The Eagles avenged that loss on Tuesday in another 10-inning game, this time with a different outcome. It was only the second loss of the season for Archmere, who finishes 18-2.
The Eagles (17-3) will now advance to the state semifinals on Thursday, June 3, to face the winner of No. 2 Laurel and No. 10 Milford.
