Emma Clarke inserted herself into Tennessee softball lore late Saturday afternoon in Oklahoma City.
With some authority, too.
The 6-foot-1 sophomore second baseman from Cleveland, North Carolina, launched Kaitlyn Terry’s second pitch of the ninth inning over the center-field wall to deliver the Lady Volunteers a dramatic 2-1 victory over Texas Tech at the Women’s College World Series. It was just the second walk-off homer for the Lady Vols in their 10 WCWS trips and their first since 2005.
“Honestly, I was just looking to swing at strikes and get something going for my team,” Clarke said afterward in a press conference. “Being leadoff, I just wanted to put the ball in play. I did, and it worked.
“I immediately just looked up and started to give God all the glory, because I’m just so grateful to be in this position and on this team with these people.”