Sparks Haarlem appeared to open the score immediately in the top of the first inning, but the team left two runners in scoring position.
Maaike Blaauwgeers led off with a walk and her twin-sister Anne Blaauwgeers reached on a bunt-single.
A double steal-attempt followed, but the lead runner was eliminated at third base.
Hereafter, Jenny Kinburn walked and the runners moved to second and third base when Karin Tuk flied.
But the runners stranded when a grounder ended the at bat.
Sparks Haarlem then did open the score in the second at bat.
With one out, Kingsley Avery singled and stole second base.
With two outs, the New Zealander then also took off to steal third base.
While it appeared that she was out of her running lane while trying to avoid being tagged, an error was made, which not only made her reach third base safely, but also enabled her to score the first run.
Terrasvogels got close to the tying run in its second inning.
Sparks-starter Leonella Elizabeth struckout the side in the first inning, but gave up an one-out single to Ella Krommendijk in the second.
She moved when a throwing error followed on a flyout, then was waved home trying to score on a single to short-leftfield by Gabi Obia.
Leftfielder Maaike Blaauwgeers got the ball in time to catcher Karin Tuk, who tagged out the runner to end the inning.
Sparks Haarlem doubled its lead in the fourth inning.
Karin Tuk led off with a single, then reached second base when a pick-off ended in an error.
With two outs, she was replaced by Temporary Runner Tammie Lijbers, who then scored on a triple by Kingsley Avery.
...Karin Tuk...
...50 homeruns...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Terrasvogels got one run back in the bottom of the fourth, but also stranded two runners in scoring position.
Lizzie Clarijs led off with a double, then the bases got loaded with one out when Ella Krommendijk was hit by a pitch and Jessica Waasdorp reached on an infield-hit.
That led to a pitching change, as Rebecca Soumeru took over for Leonella Elizabeth.
She got a grounder from Gabi Obia, which also led to a run.
With runners on second and third base, the inning ended with a flyout.
In the fifth, Terrasvogels got its final runner in scoring position.
Rhowan Stuart led off with a single and moved on a 2-out walk for Lizzie Clarijs, but they were left behind.
In the top of the sixth inning, Karin Tuk wrote history at 9:43 PM.
After having fouled off two pitches on an 1-2 count, she connected well on the next delivery of Micaela Whitney and drilled the ball over the centerfield-fence.
With that, the powerhitter recorded her 50th career homerun and became the first player in history to reach this mark at the big league-level.
Her homerun lifted the lead to 3-1.
After Karin Tuk had homered, Kehli Washington reached on an infield-hit in a 10-pitch at bat.
Hereafter, Dani Bonnet took over the pitching for Terrasvogels.
She saw Washington advance on a sacrifice bunt by Tammie Lijbers and a passed ball.
With two outs and Washington on third base, Virginie Anneveld (who was slightly injured) entered the game as pinch-hitter for Onaisha Franka.
It was clear that Franka would re-enter in case Anneveld would reach base.
With first base open, she received an intentional pass.
Instead of running towards first base, Anneveld immediately returned to the dug-out, which led to some confusion.
At the same time, it appeared that Head Coach Peter van Dalen also would enter Maxime van Dalen as a pinch-hitter, but she was called back.
This was followed by a brief discussion between Van Dalen and Home Plate Umpire Robin Stoevelaar.
Eventually, Anneveld did ran towards first base, then returned again, as Franka indeed re-entered and took over as pinch-runner.
Moments later, Franka stole second base, but stranded there.
After walking Lizzie Clarijs in the fifth, Rebecca Soumeru retired the final seven batters she faced, four of them with a stikeout.
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Karin Tuk hits historic homerun in win Sparks Haarlem
SANTPOORT-ZUID (Neth.) -
The second of two weekly games between Terrasvogels and Oolders Omaco Sparks Haarlem on Thursday-evening (June 8) was played under far better weather conditions than two days earlier.
Sparks Haarlem won 3-1.
On Tuesday-evening (June 6), the game was halted in the bottom of the fifth inning due to heavy rain and has been re-scheduled for Saturday, June 17.
Karin Tuk (Sparks Haarlem) hits her 50th career homerun and becomes the first player in history to reach this mark at the big league-level.