Hamilton wasn’t about to drop a postseason softball game to Sandra Day O’Connor.

Not after Sandra Day O’Conner eliminated Hamilton 723 days ago in the 2014 playoffs, and not even after trailing 5-1 in the sixth inning of their Division I playoff game Thursday. Yes, Hamilton still carries the sting of playoff defeat and used it as motivation at Rose Mofford Sports Complex to rally and stun the defending champ, 8-6.

“We wanted this game so bad,” Hamilton shortstop Bella Loomis.

Hamilton left no doubt in the sixth inning, when it scored seven runs, just how badly it wanted this game.

Loomis hit a two-RBI home run to right-center field to put her team up for good, 7-5, in the sixth, when Hamilton added an insurance after an Ali Ashner RBI single.

“This team here is phenomenal,” Hamilton coach Rocky Parra said. “We have hitters in the lineup, one through 12, they can all hit.”

Parra’s lineup wasn’t exactly making contact before the start of the sixth inning, however. 

Stevie McLemore retired seven consecutive Hamilton batters until the sixth inning started. That’s when the first two Hamilton batters got on base, and Taylor Gindlesperger drove them in with a double that landed just inside the left field line.

Sandra Day O’Connor allowed another run to score when a throw to home by its third baseman hit the helmet of a Hamilton runner attempting to score. An RBI double by Nicole Spykstra off the left field fence then tied the game at 5 and set up Loomis' deep blast.

The shortstop, an Arizona State-commit with a 4.1 GPA, hit a grand slam as a freshman late in the game in a first round playoff victory two seasons ago. On Thursday, Loomis, Hamilton’s leadoff hitter, came through again in the clutch and finished the night 3 for 4.

(Hamilton's Bella Loomis)

The No. 1-4 hitters for Hamilton went a combined 9 for 14. Sandra Day O’Connor didn’t really start to hit the ball until the fourth inning, when it tallied its first hits and runs against Abby Anderson.

In that inning, Anderson walked three batters, as her drop ball stopped hitting the strike zone. In the fifth, cleanup hitter Hayley Busby tagged Anderson with a two-run shot way over the left field fence, knocking Anderson out of the circle and giving Sandra Day O'Conner a 5-1 advantage. 

But Hamilton’s reliever, Madi Seigworth, allowed only two hits and one run in two and 2/3 innings. Sandra Day O’Conner had the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Seigworth struck out the final batter, snapping Sandra Day O'Conner's 10-game win streak. 

They might have played in a couple of meaningful and intense games in the past couple of years, but that didn’t keep Hamilton and Sandra Day O’Conner from forming a circle on the infield and praying together after the game. They might meet again if they continue to win in the D-I tournament.

Up next for No. 5 seed Hamilton (27-7) is 6:30 p.m. meeting with No. 1 Desert Vista on Tuesday at Rose Mofford. No. 4 Sandra Day O’Conner (26-10) gets No. 9 Perry on Saturday in an elimination game at the same location.