Tanner allowed singles in the second, third and fifth, then delivered a no-hit performance over the last five innings as the LadyStorm logged a heart-stopping 1-0 victory in 10 innings.
To ice the cake, Tanner came through with a sacrifice fly to deep, deep left field to drive in the winning run in the top of the 10th.
UCO pulled out a 1-0 win in the opener to leave the LSC-North rivals with a rare 1-0, 1-0 split on the day.
SE coach Ron Faubion said, “We had great pitching and we made some plays. These were two outstanding games between two evenly-matched teams.
“Amanda now has back-to-back complete-game shutout wins and both were games we really had to have to stay in the playoff race.
“We wanted to sweep, naturally, but this split assures us a spot in the playoffs. Now we just have to stay hooked up for our doubleheader with Central at our place Saturday.”
Southeastern is now 24-23 overall and 9-9 in the LSC-North. UCO is 28-16 and 13-7.
The teams are scheduled for the regular-season finale at 2 p.m. Saturday at the SE field on May 1.
SE will celebrate Senior Day for Tanner, Erika Bernal and Sharlie Stabb.
The Lone Star Conference championship tournament is slated for May 6-7-8 at Durant’s Multi-Sports Complex.
Everybody is invited to come out for Senior Day and the final regular-season doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
Central Oklahoma 1
LadyStorm 0
Ashley Smith (12-12) allowed only five hits in a complete-game effort, but two of them came back-to-back with one out in the third.
The second hit was followed by an intentional walk to load the bases and set up the force. Brittany Geter’s 1-2 sacrifice fly to center spoiled the strategy and produced the game’s only run.
The Storm stranded eight runners, including three in the sixth when a called third strike ended the would-be rally.
Smith held the Bronchos hitless in the first and second innings, then blanked them from the fourth through the sixth.
She allowed just five hits while walking four and striking out four.
Senior Erika Bernal led the Storm with two for three, including a double. Cassy Tice was one for two, Amanda Tanner and Mandi Worthington one for three each. Jeana Keyes and Ryan Allen were one for four apiece.
Kacie Edwards led UCO with two for four.
Rachael Steverson pitched a complete game and improved to 13-5 on a 7-hitter with one walk and seven strikeouts.
LadyStorm 1
Central Oklahoma 0
(10 innings)
The LadyStorm had base runners in every inning except the fifth and eighth, but couldn’t deliver the run-scoring hits.
Despite an infield error on the leadoff batter for UCO, the hostesses had only two runners reach third and the second came on the international tie-breaker rule that starts the 10th inning with a runner on second.
Tanner (11-11) outdueled UCO’s Molly Shivers in this gem, allowing only four hits with one of the infield variety.
UCO had runners reach third in only the first and 10 innings, but Tanner and friends had the answer every time the hostesses tried to mount a rally.
Tanner threatened to put up a run when she doubled off the left-field wall with two out in the sixth before her long drive to left delivered the sac fly that plated the winning run in the top of the 10th.
Coming off a two-win effort that netted NFC-North Pitcher of the Week honors and SE’s first shutout of the year, Tanner produced her 10-inning jewel for her second-consecutive shutout victory.
UCO’s Molly Shivers pitched well as she went nine innings on a 6-hitter with four strikeouts and seven walks. She took the loss and fell to 14-10 as Steverson came on for the last inning and gave up the sacrifice fly to Tanner.
Ryan Allen led the Storm with two for five. Tice was one for two, Tanner and Sharlie Staab one for three each and Jeana Keyes one for five with the lone run of the game.
Rachel Lowery led UCO with one for three.
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