A season-ending matchup between two rivaled college programs would not be remembered for its score on the board, but would instead be celebrated for the selfless act and collective human spirit of its teams’ opposing players on the field.

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On April 28, 2008 Western Oregon University and Central Washington University faced each other in a Division II softball game with potential NCAA tournament implications for their Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Neither had ever reached the NCAA tournament before, thus, its importance and winning would appear paramount to most observers. Host, Central Washington was one game behind division leader, Western Oregon, in the conference standings. This would become one of the most meaningful games of their seasons, for not so obvious reasons.

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In the second game of the afternoon’s double header with the game scoreless, two runners on base, senior Sara Tucholsky came to bat for Western Oregon. Tucholsky had never hit a home run in her career, high school or college. Yet with one strike against her, Sara uncorked her best swing and hit her first ever home run – a dream come true!

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However, as she rounded first and turned back to tag the missed base, she felt her knee twist and give out. She crawled back to first but could do no more. The first-base umpire said she would be called out if her teammates tried to help her, or if a pinch runner were called in, the home-run hit would be ruled a single.

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What ensued was an incredible act of sportsmanship as two members of the opposing Central Washington University softball team, one of them Central Washingtons’s career home run leader, Mallory Holtman, stunned the crowd and carried Tucholsky around the bases so the three-run homer would count — an act that contributed to their own elimination from the playoffs.

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Event would later be reported throughout the nation, and would later receive ESPN sports network’s “ESPY” Award for “Best Sports Moment” for 2008.

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Witness account below as captured by home video and local broadcast.