College softball: One memorable day at Penn Field

Smith delivered what proved to be the final walk-off home run in the history of Penn Field as the Statesmen completed their first of their two Senior Day comebacks against Mount Mercy. Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, a lead-off single to left by Rinn would ultimately give Smith a chance to bat after Frazee struck out and Gutierrez flew out to right.

"Bailey hasn't played a lot for us this year. She's a senior and she was a starter for us last year," North said. "Being that it was Senior Day, I gave her a shot, so it was even more special that she got on as the tying run in the seventh."

Smith made the most of the senior's contribution, hammering the first pitch thrown in the two-out at-bat over the fence in left for a walk-off home run. It would be the first of Smith's four hits in the doubleheader with the second coming during a six-run rally in the second inning of game two, helping the Statesmen build an early 6-1 lead.

"I just tried not to let myself think about it too much," Smith said of her walk-off home run in game one. "I just kept reminding myself that it didn't have to be all me. I had teammates behind me that could also contribute if I just got on base. I just wanted to put a line drive on to the field to get Bailey in with the tying run. It just happened to go over the fence.

"I knew I hit it hard. I didn't think it was over. When I got halfway to second base, I realized it was gone."

As thrilling as that moment was, it would be just to first of many thrills that the Statesmen would provide in their final appearance ever at Penn Field. Mount Mercy cut William Penn's five-run lead down to 6-5 in the third inning on a three-run homer by Calli Janik before taking the lead in the sixth on an two-run double off the bat of Kennedy Daugherty.

Raegan Ware's RBI single in the seventh extended Mount Mercy's lead to 8-6, leaving the Statesmen with just three outs left to avoid losing their final home game ever on their four-decade home diamond. Jessica Lathrop's two-out single to center was followed by a walk drawn by Frazee, loading the bases for Gutierrez who delivered a 1-1 fastball into the outfield bringing Rinn and Frazee home to tie the game at 8-8.

"I think it definitely gave us a lot of motivation knowing this was going to be the last time we'd be playing out here," Gutierrez said. "We wanted to send out our seniors with a win as well. That was a pretty exhilarating. We were hitting the ball well and we had the confidence that we could come back."

The two-out, two-run single by Gutierrez would be just the first game-extending rally by the Statesmen in the memorable home finale. Frazee answered a solo home run in the top of the ninth by Lilly Wethrich with a two-out blast of her own, tying the game at 9-9.

"I knew something big was going to happen," Frazee said. "I was actually the most relaxed that I was throughout the entire day. I think that's the most important part is just having that approach of a calm mind and calm body. You just try to stay loose to come up big for the team in a moment like that."

Janik hammered a two-run homer in the top of the 10th, again giving the Mustangs a two-run lead to protect. The Statesmen cut the lead to 11-10 on an RBI single by Leah Conlon, then received a gift from the Mustang defense as an wild throw to first on what would have been a game-ending groundout by Eva Viox instead allowed Conlon to score from second extending the game into the 11th with the score tied at 11-11.

"I don't think I've ever been part of a day like this," Frazee said. "It was pretty cool to experience this with my teammates. Everyone was all in for ever single at-bat and every single pitch. Nobody took any reps off. That has a lot to do with how we prepare. Everyone was called upon to contribute and everyone did their job."

The Statesmen again answered Mount Mercy in the 11th inning after Ashley Smith scored on a wild pitch to put the Mustangs up 12-11. Standing at third base representing the tying run with one out, Mckenna Vasser suddenly took off after an initial lead down the line on a pitch, stealing home on the throw back to the pitching circle to tie the game at 12-12.

"We talk all the time about details and details for us includes paying attention to runners, being disciplined and watching to make sure the other team gets back to the base," North said. "Looking for that makes them notice when the other team isn't paying attention to the details. It was a gutsy move by Mckenna, but it worked out."

While Vasser was stealing home, Frazee went from first to second on a steal of her own. After battling back to simply extend the game three times in four innings, Gutierrez finally ended it lining an RBI double into left field to bring home Frazee with the final run ever scored at Penn Field ending perhaps the wildest contest ever played on the diamond.

"It took a little pressure off me knowing that we had already tied the game. I'm kind of a shy person, but it was nice to have everyone run out there and celebrate with me," Gutierrez said. "I'd say it was very wild. It was a long game, but we're very persistent. We just found a way to keep going.

""I'm going to miss this place, but not too much. We're getting a really nice field to play on next season."