New South Wales produced a stunning comeback to claim gold at the 2018 Australian Women’s Baseball Championships in Geelong on Friday.
A six-run sixth propelled NSW to its first title since 2016, prevailing 7-6 over Victoria Blue on Diamond 1.
NSW started its comeback by scoring on an error and closed to within a run following RBIs from Lauren Donnellan and Elodie O’Sullivan.
Olivia Bannon’s two-run double gave NSW its first lead of the decider.
Victoria Blue set the early running on the back of a four-run fourth and strong start from Brittany Cedelland.
Bronwyn Gell hit a lead-off single in the fourth and Amanda Asay walked ahead of back-to-back hits from Abbey McLellan and Sinead Flanigan driving in runs.
Rieko Abe’s sacrifice fly and a Leslie Anglin RBI-single extended Blue’s lead to four runs.
But NSW chased Cedelland in the sixth before taking the lead and then extending it with an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
It proved crucial as Victoria Blue added two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to one run.
Earlier, Western Australia grabbed bronze with a 7-1 victory over South Australia.