Scoreless in the top of the fifth, Countryside had just gotten its first runner on base and Spence was merely trying to move her to second.
But for some reason, she could not lay one down.
After two foul tips, and behind 0-2 in the count, she was running out of options. Spence rocked the next ball she received from Palm Harbor University pitcher Dani Hofer way, way over the leftfield wall, paying Nikki Delandy's way home as well.
"I figured if I couldn't bunt, I had to do something," Spence said. "So I just swung away. I just really relaxed and it happened to go out."
The two-run homer was all the Cougars needed to defeat Palm Harbor U. 2-0 on Thursday.
Delandy led off the inning with a single to left-centerfield. And Spence said once she saw Delandy's hit, the Cougars' first against Hofer (13-2), she knew she could do it, too.
"Any time you play a great team like this, it feels good to win," Countryside coach Kaylyn Bayly said. "I think it gives us a little more confidence."
Though there still are games left to play in the regular season, Countryside (18-0) put itself in position to take the No. 1 seed in the 5A-9 district tournament and is the top candidate to be the north's representative in the Pinellas County Athletic Conference Championship.
After going through last season with high and heavy expectations of being the defending state champions, the Cougars looked strong with a regular-season sweep over PHU.
"Now we don't have to worry about that," Bayly said. "They've got a new identity now and they're playing tremendous as a team."
The Hurricanes (17-3) had their chances, but were unable to finish them. In the bottom of the fourth, Spence (13-0) walked Tara Toscano and Toscano stole second as Stephanie Loza struck out. Next up was Hofer, who drilled a double to leftfield and Toscano took off toward home. But with no play at second, Countryside leftfielder Allison Kidman beat Toscano to the plate with a throw home where catcher Alyssa Allbritten tagged her out.
The Hurricanes had another opportunity in the bottom of the sixth. On two outs, Toscano dropped an infield single in front of second and Spence walked Stephanie Loza. With the tying runs on base, Hofer struck out to end the inning.
PHU coach Chuck Poetter said he was glad the Hurricanes, who had players on base in the sixth and seventh innings, didn't stop fighting after getting down.
"I was happy we didn't quit," Poetter said. "We didn't stop running our offense."
Countryside threatened to add insurance runs in the top of the seventh, getting the first two batters on base with two hits. But Hofer struck out two to end the inning. She ended the game with 16 strikeouts. Spence had 11.
