As the beginning of the fourth and final series of the AUSL Cup is underway, it will also mark the retirement of there great players. First, outfielder Victoria Hayward, infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton, and catcher Taylor Edwards announced they will call it a career at the end of this series.
Hayward has been a cornerstone of Athletes Unlimited Softball as she was part of the Player Executive Committee from 2020 to 2022. She is also a Bronze Medalist as part of Team Canada. Gibson Whorton made her Athletes Unlimited Softball debut in 2023 when it was the AUX season, She is the Arkansas Razorbacks’ all-time leader in RBIs with 180. Edwards was named to the AU Pro Softball All-Defensive Team in 20222 and has played in AU Pro Softball since 2022.
Now, here is a recap of the opening doubleheader of Series Four of the AUSL Cup in Rosemont, Illinois.
Game 16: Extra Softball Needed At Parkway Bank Stadium
Here, infielder Erin Coffel and her Orange team faced off against pitcher Rachel Garcia and Team Blue. The offense from both teams was non-existent until the fourth inning with a combined six runs in the frame. Team Garcia scored first thanks to Sydney McKinney‘s two-run double to left field in the top of the inning. Yet, Team Coffel responded with an RBI via a walk by Sierra Romero and Caroline Jacobsen with a three-run double to take a 4-2 lead.
a lead change already 😱😱😱@carolinejacobsn comes up clutch with a bases clearing double in the gap!
— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) August 29, 2025
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/zyEU6MMuq3
Team Garcia tied up the game in the top of the fifth with RBI singles by Garcia and Jessi Warren. It remained tied 4-4 after seven innings, meaning more softball. It’s important to note this game marked the first extra innings game in AUSL Cup history. Jadelyn Allchin gave Team Blue the lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth. In the end, Team Coffel was unable to respond in the bottom of the frame, giving Team Garcia the 5-4 victory.
MVP 1 honors went to pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl for Team Garcia, going five-and-two-thirds in relief. Kilfoyl allowed two hits, a walk, and struck out seven. Next, Danieca Coffey won MVP 2 honors as she had three hits in four at-bats for Garcia’s squad. Jacobsen took home MVP 3 honors thanks to her three-RBI effort at the plate. For Team Garcia, Ana Gold was the Defensive MVP of the game.
Game 17: Shutting It Down In Rosemont
While the first game of the doubleheader needed extra innings, this matchup was decided in regulation. Team Gold, led by outfielder Kayla Kowalik, faced pitcher Keilani Ricketts, the captain of the Purple squad. All of the offense came from Team Gold as Aleshia Ocasio dominated the circle, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts. Ocasio tossed the second complete game shutout of the AUSL Cup en route to her second win, getting MVP 2 honors.
As for the aforementioned offense, Paige Sinicki hit a double in the top of the second, plating two runs. Baylee Klingler hit an RBI single in the fifth inning and another one with a double in the seventh for Kowalik’s team. Finally, Korbe Otis drove in the final run of the game with an RBI triple in the seventh. The 5-0 win by Team Gold gave them all 130 win points.
Klingler won MVP 1 honors with her two RBI performance. Similarly, Sinicki also had a two RBI game and garnered MVP 3 honors. What’s more, the Defensive MVP honor went to Otis.
KORBE PLEASE 😳
— blaze | athletes unlimited softball league (@AUSL_Blaze) August 30, 2025
unreaaaaaaal catch from @korbeotis pic.twitter.com/HjW7L0CS2j
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