Mere moments after rounding the bases to score the winning run in a softball game that no one in attendance is likely to forget any time soon, junior Emma Zacheis suggested that she and her University High School teammates are merely getting started.
Judging by what transpired Thursday afternoon between the Bulldogs and their longtime rival Eaton, if that game was merely a sneak peak of things to come, it might be difficult to even fathom what’s in store for the main attraction in a couple weeks.
In what Reds coach Chad Shaw called an “instant classic,” University edged Eaton 8-7 in eight innings on the Reds’ home field.
Knowing Reds standout junior catcher Emma Anderson has a cannon for an arm behind the plate, Zacheis cautiously, yet assertively, stole second base in the top of the eighth inning.
Then, with yet another heads-up play, Zacheis immediate reacted to an errant throw from the outfield, quickly rounding third base and sliding home for what would prove to be the winning run.
University's lineup is introduced moments before the Bulldogs 8-7 extra-inning Class 3A Patriot League softball win against Eaton on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Eaton. (Bobby Fernandez/The Greeley Tribune)“It was such a good feeling,” Zacheis said. “It’s a huge win, and it really helps our confidence going into regionals and the (state) tournament. But we know there is still work to be done, and now there is an even bigger target on our back, too. Going into the state tournament, we know we can’t go light on any team. We plan to go full throttle.”
With this dramatic victory, University (19-2 overall, 7-0 in Class 3A Patriot League play) snapped a four-game losing streak against Eaton (16-4, 5-1). It was the Bulldogs’ first win over the Reds since University’s current seniors were freshmen, in 2022.
Eaton’s recent streak of wins against the Bulldogs included victories over University in two of the past three 3A state title games.
Though Thursday’s win puts the Bulldogs’ firmly in the driver’s seat for a Patriot League title, Zacheis and her teammates were wise to continue to look firmly ahead.
Eaton junior catcher Emma Anderson looks to her coaches for a sign for the next pitch in the top of the sixth inning of University's 8-7 extra-inning Class 3A Patriot League softball win against the Reds on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Eaton. (Bobby Fernandez/The Greeley Tribune)With these two teams being the virtually unquestioned top 2 teams in 3A, it’s probable Eaton and University will clash again — with even more on the line — when the season comes to a head in the state tournament Oct. 24-25 at the Aurora Sports Park.
“If we progress through regionals and the state playoffs, hopefully we’ll see them in the last game of the year, as it should be,” Shaw said. “This game — extra innings, 8-7 — was a masterpiece. Who could ask for more?”
Even though there will be more on the line if and when the Bulldogs and Reds meet again this month, Thursday’s league battle gave no reason for it to play second fiddle to any game that might take place this fall.
From the first pitch to the final one, these two juggernauts put on a fine display of why they are considered to be in a class of their own in small-school Colorado softball.
Eaton freshman Paige Hofer, left, high-fives junior Bria Foster after Foster hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning of University's 8-7 extra-inning Class 3A Patriot League softball win against Eaton on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Eaton. (Bobby Fernandez/The Greeley Tribune)Eaton jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, punctuated by junior Johanna Galvan’s two-run home run in the first inning.
University refused to bow to the Reds’ impressive prowess, as so many other teams have done this fall.
Junior Jocelyn Chacon’s flyball double into left field gave the Bulldogs their first two runs in the top of the fourth.
University closed to within 5-4 in the fifth inning, but Eaton just narrowly kept the Bulldogs at arm’s length until the final inning of regulation.
Senior Sydney Goetzel’s two-run home run with two outs again allowed University to pull within one run, 7-6, in the top of the sixth inning.
University senior Sydney Goetzel pitches in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Bulldogs' 8-7 extra-inning Class 3A Patriot League softball win against Eaton on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Eaton. (Bobby Fernandez/The Greeley Tribune)With no outs in the top of the seventh, Bulldogs sophomore Bergen Duartedoubled to bring home senior Natalie Galindo and tie the game at 7.
Galvan — in the pitcher’s circle in relief of starter junior Bria Foster — and Eaton’s stingy defense didn’t allow University to score again in what could have been even more of a tide-turning top of the seventh.
But it was seemingly inevitable the relentless Bulldogs would wrestle this game away from the Reds’ stubborn grasp, as University made all the right moves in the extra inning.
While the Bulldogs’ offense came to life late, University’s senior pitchers, Goetzel and Jasi Cole, racked up critical out after critical out to allow the Bulldogs to score eight of the game’s final 10 runs.
University players celebrate senior Sydney Goetzel's two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning of the Bulldogs 8-7 extra-inning Class 3A Patriot League softball win against Eaton on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Eaton. (Bobby Fernandez/The Greeley Tribune)Though Cole made Eaton’s potent offense work for all seven of the runs it scored in the first five innings, Goetzel completely slammed the door on the Reds’ offense in the final three innings.
“I’ve been preparing all week to be ready to go, if I was needed,” Goetzel said. “I just knew I had to keep up what Jasi started. I couldn’t have done it without her. We worked together, and that’s the biggest thing. I had her back. She had my back.”
Though University entered the game outscoring opponents by more than 10 runs per game — 12-3, on average — Bulldogs coach Chris Hutton had zero reason to question how her battle-tested squad would fair in such a tightly contested nail-biter.
“Resiliency is huge,” Hutton said. “They’ve been showing, the last two games, a great amount of resiliency. We’ve been down in the last two games (including a 16-6 win against Weld Central on Tuesday), and we’ve come back. It shows their heart. They have a lot of passion. We have great leadership. Just the intensity — they love the game. And, that’s something that is very special with this team.
“They truly love this game.”
Hence then, the article about university tops eaton in extra innings of softball instant classic was published today ( ) and is available on GreeleyTribune ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( University tops Eaton in extra innings of softball ‘instant classic’ )
Also on site :