MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Once again it took just one swift swing of Tory Lewis’ bat to overcome what had been a frustrating day for the GPS softball team.
After leaving runners stranded in scoring position each of the first four innings, the Bruisers broke through for six runs in the fifth — highlighted by Lewis’ second three-run triple of the Division II-AA state tournament — and defeated Chattanooga rival Baylor 8-3.
The Bruisers can secure a fourth consecutive state title by defeating Baylor again at 8 EDT tonight. Baylor defeated St. Benedict in the losers-bracket final Thursday night.
“That’s why she is who she is and is going to play at Tennessee,” GPS coach Susan Crownover said of Lewis. “She’s clutch.
“We had kind of been knocking on the door all day, and I told the girls that just before the fifth inning. That inning we kicked the door down. We had been getting a little hit here and a little hit there all day, so it felt good to finally put a few together and get some runs.”
Seven of the Bruisers’ nine batters got a hit, helping overcome a hitless day by their top hitter, Jackie Baird. GPS left 10 runners on base, including having the bases loaded in the fourth.
The Bruisers again filled them in the fifth. This time, with no out, Kourtney Kell’s single drove in the tying run and Lewis followed with a one-out triple and looked for the second time as if she wanted to try for an inside-the-park home run.
“I’m determined to get one before this tournament is over,” Lewis joked. “This really does feel different than the other three times we were in this spot, because it feels like we’ve had to work for it more. We had so many great players in years past that it just seemed like it came easy. This year we have a lot of people in new positions and a lot of inexperience, but we keep finding ways to win.”
Baylor twice took the lead, but both times GPS didn’t take longer than an inning to respond. Pitcher Payton Leech allowed six hits, all singles, and coaxed 11 groundouts.
“Payton had been struggling a little bit with control, but today she really stepped up and pitched the way you hope a senior would,” Crownover said. “She was solid, and who would think we could score that much without Baird getting a hit? We’ve really gotten a lot of help up and down the lineup.”