In the first inning of Friday’s Women’s College World Series elimination game, Marlie Giles stepped to the plate with a runner on and two outs for Alabama. She delivered, putting the Crimson Tide on top 1-0 before Duke tied things up in the second inning.
That 1-1 score held – thanks in large part to some sparkling defensive plays from the Blue Devils – until Giles came up in the sixth. She turned on a pitch and hit it into the right field bleachers, giving Alabama a 2-1 lead, which held as the final score as the Crimson Tide fought off elimination.
Try Fubo for FREE today and don’t miss any of the action!
Giles knew Alabama was making solid contact against Duke pitcher Cassidy Curd, but just couldn’t find a way to get through the defense. But because the Tide kept finding getting the bat on the ball, she knew they had a chance – and her approach didn’t change.
“Just kept it simple,” Giles told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game. “We were on her. Kali Heivilin hit three shots right at the wall, so we knew that we were on her and we were gonna get her eventually, and it just happened to be me. I knew anybody, 1 through 9, in our lineup could do it, and I did.”
Giles cleared the wall with plenty of room, but she told Rowe she wasn’t trying to hit a home run when she came up. Alabama needed baserunners, and that was her focus.
“I didn’t really change anything, I kept it the same,” Giles said. “I was fine with a double if I hit another double – I wasn’t trying to hit it out. We just needed to get a runner on base and it just happened to go over.”
More on Marlie Giles’ road from injury to WCWS hero
It’s been an interesting road for Giles this season. She broke her arm in April during the series against Kentucky and came back earlier this month. In fact, her last home run came shortly before she got hurt.
When Rowe asked how she hit a ball so far with a plate in her arm, Giles didn’t have an explanation.
“I don’t know – I just hit it,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t know – I really don’t.”
Through her journey back onto the field and eventually WCWS hero, Giles said she relied on her faith while returning to game action. Now, she and Alabama will be continuing the season after fighting off elimination, playing again Sunday in Oklahoma City.
“I’ve trusted God through this whole process and He’s gotten me here and been with me the whole way,” Giles said. “And I’m just blessed He let me be here.”
The post Marlie Giles explains approach ahead of game-winning home run vs. Duke appeared first on On3.