MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — After Chattanooga rival Baylor closed GPS’s three-run lead to one run in the top of the fifth inning Friday night, Bruisers coach Susan Crownover had one request for her team.
“She told us to kick in the door,” GPS sophomore Morgan Layne said.
The Bruisers responded by scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning, giving pitcher Payton Leech all the extra support she needed to claim a 6-2 victory and giving GPS its fourth straight Division II-AA state title at the Starplex softball complex.
Layne had a two-run single in the inning, earning her the distinction of most valuable player. Jackie Baird also had an RBI in the inning.
“When we put those runs on the board, it was huge,” Crownover said. “This year we’ve done that on multiple occasions.”