SPRINGFIELD, Ohio -- She started the day with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, pulled off once again despite problems with the microphone. It ended with Haley Gerken's (Logan, Ohio/Logan) walk-off base hit in the eighth inning of Game 2 against Allegheny, which secured a clutch doubleheader sweep of the Gators that thrust the Tigers back into the tick of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title chase.
The win moved the Tigers to 12-14 overall, and more importantly, 4-2 in the NCAC, heading into a match-up Tuesday, April 20, opposite perennial powerhouse Denison. Allegheny dropped to 8-15 overall and 1-3 in the conference, a year after reaching the NCAC Tournament title game.
In the opener, the Tigers rode the strong right arm of senior pitcher Brooke Boswell (Hamilton, Ohio/Fairfield), who scattered four hits in tossing her 14th complete game and fourth shutout of the 2010 season. The offense was unable to manage much, but a lead-off triple by sophomore Brooklyn Cox (Dayton, Ohio/Vandalia Butler) was parlayed into the game's lone run when sophomore Jessica Snyder (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) followed with an RBI single.
Boswell then got out of a jam in the top of the seventh inning, with the potential game-tying run snuffed out at the plate to end the game.
Boswell toed the rubber again in the second game, and she was nearly as effective, working overtime to allow just seven hits while improving to 9-6 on the seas with her 15th complete game. She even got into the act offensively, driving in the Tigers' first run with an RBI double in the first inning.
However, the two teams were knotting 2-2 after seven innings, forcing an extra frame. After Boswell retired the Gators, the stage was set for Gerken's heroics. With runners on second and third with one out, Gerken drove a pitch through the middle to score pinch-runner Liz Roby (London, Ohio/London) and send the Tiger faithful home happy.