By Isaac Goodwin

Powder Springs, Georgia - The quarterfinal action of the USA Junior Olympic Cup had its moments on Thursday. Spectacular defensive plays, great pitching, home runs and a controversial ending were all apart of a very windy and rainy day.

Texas Bombers vs Oklahoma Exclusive 18U

The Texas Bombers defeated the Oklahoma Exclusive, 8-1, in what was an offensive struggle early on. The Bombers were able to get runners on second and third base in the first, second and third innings, but failed to drive in any runs.

Shelbi Sunseri, an LSU commit, was dominant on the mound for the Bombers and helped keep the game scoreless going into the latter innings. Before the Bombers came to bat in the bottom of the fourth, its coach Scott Smith told his team to "let it loose"... and that's just what they did.

Bombers infielder Taylor Pleasants walked to lead off the inning and was followed by Auburn commit, Haley Nillen. Nillen drove the next pitch to right field recording an RBI-triple to give the Bombers the first lead of the game. Florida State commit Rock Benavides continued the hitting streak with an RBI-double that scored Nillen and extended the lead to 2-0. A passed ball advanced Benavides to third on the very next pitch and then the Bombers really let loose. BB Angel, one of the few uncommitted players on Texas, homered to center giving the Bombers a four run lead over the Exclusives. They led Oklahoma 4-0 going into the fifth.

The bats continued to roll in the fifth for Texas when LSU commit Georgia Clark homered to left giving the Bombers a 5-0 lead. Sunseri contributed offensively with a single of her own, which was followed by a Pleasants infield single and Nillen RBI-single extending the Texas lead to 6-0. The exclusives escaped the fifth allowing just the two runs and staying in the game.

The Oklahoma bats were cold for most of the game, but came through in the sixth inning. Alexis Freeman reached on an infield error and was advanced to third after Arielle James recorded her second hit of the game. Neleigh Herring got the Exclusives into the run column with an RBI-single, but the Bombers escaped giving up just the one run.

Makinzy Herzog and Georgia Clark added two more runs for the Bombers and in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.

Scrapyard Dawgs vs. Texas Storm U18

The Scrapyard Dawgs defeated the Texas Storm, 4-0, in an extremely windy game full of missed opportunities, Thursday afternoon.

Jenika Lombrana got the start for the Dawgs and had a rough first two innings loading the bases in each. She hit three batters, allowed two hits and a walk, but escaped without allowing a run. Adriana Adams, a University of Texas commit, replaced Lombrana and in the second she was dominant. She went the rest of the game without allowing a run in the victory.

The Dawgs had a multitude of chances early on as well, but failed to capitalize. The Storm defense played phenomenally and pitcher Hannah Broseman, a Texas Tech commit, pitched well keeping the game scoreless into the fourth inning.

The ice was finally broken in the bottom of the fourth inning when Kayla Keeling hit a leadoff single for the Dawgs. Catcher Doris Smith drew a walk, and then Keeling and Smith successfully pulled off a double-steal putting two runners in scoring position for Sam Rodriguez. Rodriguez grounded into a fielder's choice, as James (who pinch ran for Keeling) was thrown out at home. CJ Landrum then tripled to right to put the Dawgs up 2-0.

Adams continued to shut down every Storm batter - at one point she forced seven consecutive ground outs.

Scrapyard extended its lead in the fifth after a Jourdyn Campbell blooper to left scoring Georgina Gonzales. Sarah Queen, who singled before Campbell stole third base and scored on the very pitch on a throwing error. The Dawgs took a 4-0 lead into the sixth inning.

Scrapyard's victory didn't seem to be in doubt until Storm outfielder Lacey Sanders reached first on an error with one out. Baylee Allender and Annie Cangelosi both singled in consecutive at bats loading the bases for Leea Dempsey. She crushed a hard liner, but it was impressively caught by Dawgs third basemen Sarah Queen, who stepped on her base and ended the Storm threat and the game.

Gametime Stars vs Georgia Elite 18U

The Georgia Elite took on the Gametime Stars in the fourth game of the day and won in a pitchers duel, 1-0. Alexas Emanuel scored the only run of the game on a solo home run in the second inning.

Stars pitcher Lindsey Stoeckel and Elite pitcher Morgan Goree both were nearly unhittable throughout the game.

The Stars had its chances in the third and fourth inning, but failed to manufacture runs. They were able to get runners in scoring position in innings throughout the game. Both teams bats stayed ice cold all the way into the bottom of the fifth when Chenise Delce hit an infield single. Rhomie Bradshaw pinch-ran and was able to steal second, followed by a Kari Briggs single, but Elite pitcher Goree escaped unscathed once again.

Things got a bit dicey in the sixth inning for the Elite, when Petty leadoff the inning with a single. After a groundout by Brighton Gilbert, Madison Perrigan came to bat next and hit what looked like a two-run homer - it was caught spectacularly over the outfield barrier for the second out. Petty, who was on second, seemed to tag up and make it all the way home safely to tie the game at one.

The entire Stars team cleared the dugout and met Petty a home plate in celebration until the Elite through the ball to second and stepped on the base. The third base umpire raised her fist and called an out signifying a double play and a heartbreaking turn of events for the Stars.

The umpire ruled that Petty was leading off of second base and never tagged back up before going to home plate. The Elite were able to close the game out after that and win the game 1-0.