The New York Heights staved off elimination Saturday, beating the LA Queens 9-7 to level their WPBL playoffs series at one game apiece. After Los Angeles rolled to a 10-3 win in the opening semifinal, New York answered with a gritty comeback that forced the best-of-three series to a deciding third game — with a trip to the 2026 WPBL championship on the line.
New York Battles LA in Win-or-Go-Home WPBL Playoff Game
WPBL co-home run leader Denae Benites drilled a two-run bomb in the third to give the Heights some early breathing room. Claire O'Sullivan added an RBI double in the first and subsequently stayed dangerous all night. Meanwhile, Natsuki Yonetani strung together consecutive hits to keep New York's lineup moving.
Still, the Queens wouldn't fold. Ayuri Shimano delivered a two-RBI pinch-hit single in the fifth to trim the deficit, while Sarah Edwards kept her 11-game hitting streak alive. By the late innings, Los Angeles had closed within striking distance.
Then O'Sullivan and Keira Izumi answered in the ninth, going deep on consecutive at-bats off closer Meggie Meidlinger to seal New York's victory.
The winner of Monday's Game 3 decider advances to meet the San Francisco Firebells in the 2026 WPBL championship series. Fans can catch the final face-off tonight at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN+.
