Following an exciting Series One of the AUSL Cup, Series Two kicked off in Rosemont. Illinois with two new captains in pitcher Kenzie Brown and infielder Baylee Klingler. Pitcher Keilani Ricketts held the captain’s role for the second straight week. Without further ado, here is a recap of the action from Series Two (Aug 14 – 16).
Team Klingler Vs. Team Ricketts
All things considered. this game was short on offense as the lone run came in the top of third inning. The run came on a passed ball, plating Bubba Nickles-Camarena as it was all pitching with both teams combining for just six hits. Nickles-Camarena gave Team Klingler the 1 – 0 victory as she took MVP 2 Honors. The duo of Sam Landry and Lexi Kilfoyl won MVP 1 and MVP 3 Honors, respectively.
Landry went four-and-two-thirds innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts as Kilfoyl notched the save. Kilfoyl threw the remaining two-and-a-third innings as she allowed a hit along with a strikeout. Despite the loss, Karlyn Pickens sat down five batters for Team Ricketts in four innings of work. Finally, the Defensive MVP of the game went to Hannah Flippen of Team Ricketts.
Team Brown Vs. Team Klingler
Here, Klingler and her squad looked to stay in the win column and got off to a quick start at plate in the bottom of the first inning. The bat of Sharlize Palacios gave Team Klingler an early 2 – 0 lead with a home run to left field. However, Team Brown would cut into the lead in the top of the seventh via a sacrifice fly RBI by Kenleigh Cahalan. Ultimately, Team Klingler held on to get the 2 – 1 win.
Palacios and her two-RBI performance garnered her MVP 1 Honors as pitcher Georgina Corrick took home MVP 2 Honors. Corrick allowed three hits with five strikeouts in five-and-a-third innings of work, getting the win. Kilfoyl, once again, got MVP 3 honors as the right-hander picked up her second save of the series. Lastly, Flippen was the Defensive MVP of the game for the second time of the series.
Team Ricketts Vs. Team Brown
In this game, both teams were in search of their first win of the series as Brown’s team found the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Reese Atwood hit an RBI double to center to give Team Brown the 1- 0 lead. Yet, Team Ricketts countered with four runs in the top of the fifth as Sami Williams hit a three-run triple and an RBI double by Amari Harper.
Photo Credit: AUSL
Although Megan Grant hit a solo homer, Team Brown fell short as Team Ricketts picks up the 4 – 2 victory.
Williams with her three-hits and three RBls at the plate gave her MVP 1 Honors while teammate Rachel Garcia was the MVP 2. Garcia allowed three hits while striking out four in four innings in the circle. Grant and her long ball took home MVP 3 Honors as Sydney Sherrill was named the Defensive MVP of the game.
AUSL Series Three Captains
Taking the reins of the squads in Series Three will be Palacios and Landry as first-time captains while Klingler remains a captain for the third week in a row. It’s important to note that Landy made an enormous leap on the leaderboard, jumping 29 spots.
Below is the schedule for Series Three of the AUSL Cup (Time and Channel):
- Team Palacios Vs. Team Landry: Fri, Aug 21 (7:00 pm ET on CBS Sports Network)
- Team Landry Vs. Team Klingler: Saturday, Aug 22 (7:00 pm ET on ESPNU)
- Team Klingler Vs. Team Palacios Sunday, Aug 23 (8:00 pm ET on MLB Network)
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