With the inaugural AUSL season reaching its conclusion, the matchup for the postseason is set. Yet, much is to be decided with respect to individual awards. Cases are still being made out west in Round Rock, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah. Now, here’s a recap of Games 40 and 41 of the AUSL season
Game 40: The Leading Player Of The Year Candidate?
When watching the action, the Bandits offense looks complete in every way. Hitting for average or power, it’s one of the reasons they are playing for a championship. Not wasting anytime, they put up five runs in the top of the second versus the Volts. Danielle Gibson Whorton and Bubba Nickles-Camarena each hit a solo home run to get it started. Also, Morgan Zerkle hit a RBI single as Skylar Wallace added two runs with a single.
The Volts found the scoreboard in the bottom of third with a Ciara Briggs RBI single and Amanda Lorenz scoring. However, Zerkle added a two-run double in the fifth and a two-run homer in the seventh to round out the offense. Thus far, Zerkle leads the AUSL in home runs (8), hits (35) and total bases (67). She is second in RBIs (24) and third in both slugging percentage (.859) and OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging) at 1.328.
Four Bandits pitchers combined to allow six hits, two earned runs, and four strikeouts. Sarah Willis started the game, going two innings. Next, Emiley Kennedy would pitch an inning-and two-thirds as Taylor McQuillin went two-and-third innings, getting the win. Finally, Lexi Kilfoyl threw the final inning in the 9-2 win.
Game 41: Flawless Hitting In Salt Lake City
For the Talons, the offense as been there all season as they faced a tough Blaze squad at Dumke Family Softball Stadium. Following a scoreless first inning, Bri Ellis gave the Talons an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single in top of the second inning. In the bottom of the second, Ana Gold tied the game for the Blaze via a solo homer to center field.
The offense for both teams cooled in the third and fourth innings, but resumed in the fifth. Maya Brady and Tori Vidales each hit RBI single in the top of the inning for a 3-1 Talons lead. Back to Brady, she has an .875 batting average and two RBIs in her first three career AUSL games.
Montana Fouts got her second win of the season, allowing two hits in two innings of work. Georgina Corrick notched her league-tying third save after striking out two in two-thirds of an inning.
