By Mallory Mattingly
On May 9, Oklahoma softball player Gabriella Garcia stepped up to the plate to win the game for the Sooners and give her team “the largest comeback victory in SEC Softball Tournament history.”
While on an episode of the Sports Spectrum “What’s Up Podcast,” Garcia revealed the moment she knew she hit a walk-off three run home run to seal the win for her team.
“As soon as I swung. It was kind of one of those you just knew,” the athlete revealed. “It was actually very emotional for me just because of the whole situation before that. I was praying before my at-bat. I was really leaning into no matter the result, God is with me, my teammates are with me, my family is with me. It does not matter what happens at the end of the day. So, once I hit it, I just knew it off the bat, and I was just like overwhelmed with joy.”
Before the at-bat, Garcia was struck out. That’s why she needed to put the past behind her and focus on the moment at hand.
She shared photos from the game on Instagram a few days later with Romans 8:18 in the caption: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Faith is at the core of the Sooners’ team culture. Fans have noticed that the players hold up four fingers throughout their games.
Garcia explained that the four fingers represent the moment when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, but God was with them as the fourth man in the fire (Daniel 3:16-28).
Related: Oklahoma Softball Chaplain Shares How God Transformed Her: ‘A Work In Progress’
“I know who’s with me,” Garcia said on the podcast. “He is the fourth man in the fire, and He has been the fourth man in our fire this entire time. So, we’ll hold that up in representation of Him, knowing that He’s standing here with us no matter what.”
As post-season play kicks off soon, the All-SEC Team honors rolled out last week, and Garcia not only made the ALL-SEC Team, but she also secured the tournament’s All-Defensive Team honors.
Garcia has had an outstanding freshman season, thanks to hitting her “walk-off three-run home run in OU’s 8-6 win against No. 6/7 Arkansas in the SEC Semifinals,” which sent her team to the SEC tournament finals.
Unfortunately, Oklahoma would not get a chance to play in the championship game due to inclement weather. The SEC would then declare Oklahoma and Texas A&M co-champions.
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