It was a phenomenal finish and one the Bainbridge Spartans won’t soon forget.
Bishop Blanchet either, for that matter.
Malia Peato crushed a three-run walk-off home run with two out in the bottom of the seventh that capped an improbable comeback win for Bainbridge in girls fastpitch softball.
The Braves were up 3-0, thanks to two runs in the fourth inning and one in the seventh.
Bainbridge took its last turn at the plate — with two outs and no runners on and just one hit on the scoreboard — and the Spartans strung together three walks and two hits to pull out the win.
Caroline Michaels started the Bainbridge rally by drawing a full count walk. Four pitch walks to Miranda Grogger and Ruby Raymundo loaded the bases; a single by Abby Sullivan brought in two runs.
Peato followed with her three run homer that bounced on top of the fence and over to bring in three runs and complete the comeback 5-3 win.
Peato went the distance in the circle, as well, pitching the entire game. She got into, and out of, a number of jams, including twice with a runner on third and no one out.
In all, Peato stranded 12 runners, getting key plays from the defense and striking out seven in the game.
Blanchet nicked Peato for two runs in the fourth on a single and a pair of doubles. Blanchet scored its final run in the seventh on a pair of walks and a single.
Prior to the seventh-inning heroics, Bainbridge managed only six base runners on four walks, an error, and a single by Peato.
The win marked the first Metro League victory for the Spartans this season (1-0 Metro, 10-1 overall).
