Following their series with the Great Britain Women's Senior National Team, the Oklahoma City Spark brought the Olympics to OKC by facing off against the USA Women's National Team on Saturday and Sunday night. Despite Spark athletes Jocelyn Alo, Jayda Coleman, Kinzie Hansen, and Dejah Mulipola playing for the Eagles, Saturday's crowd was the biggest Devon Park has seen since the Women's College World Series wrapped up a few weeks ago. The Spark playing on the national stage not only demonstrated the growth of the game, but also the honor of competing against and alongside the best in the sport.
Game 1 Recap:
In a thrilling opening game of the series, the OKC Spark demonstrated their resilience and skill against Team USA, showcasing the depth of talent within the team. Amber Fiser (Minnesota) took the circle for the Spark as they faced off against Megan Faraimo (UCLA) and the elite athletes of Team USA. The first inning saw both teams locked in a defensive battle with no hits or runs.
The action began in the bottom of the second when Savannah Jaquish (LSU) hit a home run, putting Team USA on the scoreboard. The bottom of the third inning saw two walks, followed by a crucial hit from Amanda Lorenz (Florida) that drove in Maya Brady (UCLA), extending Team USA’s lead to 2-0.
However, the Spark refused to back down. In the top of the fourth, Michelle Moultrie (Florida) ignited a spark with a line drive to left field. Oklahoma alum Haley Lee then tied the game with a massive home run, her sixth pitch of the at-bat sailing over the fence. Fiser's impressive pitching in the bottom of the inning kept Team USA at bay, allowing only one hit and ending the inning with a strikeout.
Despite Team USA scoring two more runs in the fifth inning, the Spark's defense remained strong, not allowing any further hits. The final score was 4-2 in favor of Team USA, but the Spark’s performance against the best softball athletes in the country was a testament to their strength and potential.
Game 2 Recap:
The weekend's second game saw the OKC Spark take on Team USA once again in an exciting rematch. Keely Rochard started in the circle for the Spark, but Team USA's bats were on fire early, scoring six runs off four hits in the first inning, including a home run by Florida State alum Jessie Warren. Maddie Penta (Auburn) stepped in to close the inning for the Spark.
In the second inning, Alex Storako took over pitching duties, but Team USA continued to find success, scoring four more runs off three hits, leading to Keilani Ricketts entering the game in relief. Another home run in the third inning extended Team USA's lead to 11-0.
The Spark showed their fighting spirit in the bottom of the fourth inning. Michelle Moultrie led off with a line drive single to left field, followed by another powerful home run from Haley Lee, her third in three games, bringing much-needed energy to the team. Rachel Becker then hit a double to left field, and Yvonne Whaley’s single up the middle drove Becker home. The game ended with a final score of 11-3 in favor of Team USA.
Despite the losses, the OKC Spark's ability to compete against such high-caliber athletes, even while missing key players like Jocelyn Alo, Dejah Mulipola, Jayda Coleman, and Kinzie Hansen who were representing Team USA, was a significant achievement. Their performances on the national stage not only highlighted their skills but also the honor of playing against and alongside the best in the sport.
The Spark will continue their homestand in OKC on Tuesday, July 2nd, which begins a 3-game series against the Chattanooga Steam. Tickets are available at okcspark.com/tickets