Buchholz Softball Wins Sixth Straight With Extra-Inning Rally

Buchholz Bobcats softball rallied from a 9-3 deficit after five innings Tuesday to defeat the visiting Ocala Forest Wildcats 11-10 in eight innings.

Forest (6-5) set the tone in the first inning with a hit to the outfield and multiple walks that loaded the bases before a key hit cleared them, helping the Wildcats jump to a 4-0 lead before Buchholz could get settled. 

The Bobcats (9-2) answered in the bottom half of the first with a run, as freshman Claire Gosse came around to home plate to score. 

In the second inning, the Wildcats took advantage of the Bobcats pitching to load the bases and force a run on walks in taking a 5-1 lead. 

Buchholz made a pitching change in the third by putting in freshman Grace Lariz-McDaniel.

The Wildcats scored two runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to increase their lead to 9-3.

The Bobcats had some their chances to score with singles and stolen bases, but were unable to convert them into runs by leaving several runners on base. 

Buchholz battled back in the sixth inning by loading the bases with no outs. The Bobcats took advantage of defensive mistakes made by the Wildcats to score multiple runs and shift the momentum before the home crowd.

The biggest swing came when junior Jordyn Cooper delivered a two-run hit to tie the game at 9-9.

“Energy is contagious. Once you get rolling, girls start hitting the ball, getting on base and scoring runs. It spreads and everyone starts to follow,” Buchholz coach Will Hooper said. 

Cooper came through when needed.

“I was really excited to help my team out, help us get a win today, and it was just really great,” Cooper said. 

In the seventh, the Bobcats defense kept them in the game. Lariz-McDaniel helped get outs with the support of fielders behind her to enter the extra inning. 

After Forest applied pressure once again for a 10-9 lead in the eighth on a wild pitch, Buchholz responded. With runners on, junior Elizabeth Munson came through with an RBI to tie the game at 10-all. The Bobcats loaded the bases before freshman Alyssa Staehnke delivered a hit to drive in the winning run. 

This win marked Buchholz’s sixth straight powered by a roster featuring seven freshmen. 

The Bobcats look to continue their streak on Thursday at home against the Citra North Marion Colts (2-8) at 6:30 p.m.

Category: Buchholz High School, High School Sports, Softball