The race for the No. 3 seed in the AUSL postseason will have to wait.
The regular-season finale between the Carolina Blaze and Oklahoma City Spark was suspended due to severe weather with the Blaze leading 8-0 going into the bottom of the second. With a postseason berth riding on the result, the game is a must-finish and resumes Tuesday at 10 a.m., on ESPN2. Gates will open at 9 a.m.
Should Oklahoma City lose, the Portland Cascade would land in the Play-In game.
Devyn Netz recorded her first start of the season after tossing just 5.2 innings all year. Her fresh look kept the Spark in the infield in the first inning, as the side was retired in order on nine pitches.
Oklahoma City started Maya Johnson, and Carolina hit her early. Dakota Kennedy led off with a double. After Kennedy moved to third on a wild pitch, Reese Atwood brought her home with an RBI single through the left side to take an early 1-0 lead.
After a visit to the circle, Johnson lost control and put Baylee Klingler on with a hit by pitch. That was all for Johnson, and Spark head coach Amber Flores went to Maddie Penta. Then Valerie Cagle, Penta’s first hitter, smashed a three-run home run to put the Blaze up 4-0. OKC just could not get off the field.
Jordyn Rudd-Lee singled with Ana Gold and Alyssa Brito on, Brito caught the Spark unaware and stole home to make it 5-0. The Blaze batted around and brought Atwood back to the plate, and she added a three RBI double to expand the lead to 8-0. Then, OKC went to Peja Goold to get out of the inning.
In the top of the second, Netz worked through the side and kept the Spark off the board. Then a long weather delay, which turned into the suspension, followed as severe weather approached.
