By Mallory Mattingly
Tennessee Volunteers softball star Emma Clarke couldn’t help but give glory to God for the opportunity to play in the Women’s College World Series.
“Just so much joy. I had so many thoughts, but just I immediately just looked up and just started to give God all the glory because I’m just so grateful to be in this position and just to be on this team with these people and just to be able to have opportunities to be in moments like this, even when they don’t work out,” the sophomore infielder said in a video shared by Christhlete. “It’s just so – it’s literally such a blessing, and I just couldn’t do it without the girls to my left and right.”
Clarke’s God-given abilities shone on Saturday, May 30, when the Volunteers played Texas Tech. As the game headed into extra innings, tied 1-1, Clarke sailed a ball to deep center field in the bottom of the ninth inning. That hit was a home run and would secure the win for the Volunteers.
According to the Volunteers media team, Clarke’s “game-winning homer, her 14th of the season, came on the first pitch of the ninth inning and capped a dramatic pitchers’ duel between two of the nation’s top staffs. The walk-off marked Tennessee’s first game-ending home run at the Women’s College World Series since Tonya Callahan’s 11th-inning blast against Michigan in 2005.”
Related: Softball NCAA Championship Winner: ‘The Answer’s Always God’
The sophomore standout relied heavily on her faith through her time in Tennessee. She keeps Jeremiah 29:11 written in her social media bio. The verse reads, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
In 2022, Clarke announced her commitment to the University of Tennessee, where she once again credited God for the opportunity.
“I am super excited and blessed to announce that I will be furthering my academic and athletic career at the University of Tennessee. I want to thank God, all of my coaches, teammates, friends and family for all of the endless love and support throughout this journey. GO VOLS,” she wrote in a post on Instagram.
The No. 7-seeded Vols were knocked out of the Women’s College World Series after they lost the semi-final series against the University of Texas. Despite the loss, Clarke continued to give all the praise and glory to God because she knows that, win or lose, God is still good.
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