Without question, Opening Day in the AUSL did not disappoint as fans were treated to grand slams and great pitching. The final games of the three initial series concluded across the league on Thursday. Here, let’s take a look of the final two games of each series.
Texas Volts Vs. Oklahoma City Spark (Game Two)
For the Volts, this squad was in search of a win in their second game following a 13 – 5 loss in Game One to the Spark.
After two scoreless innings, Texas got on the board in the top of the third inning. First a three-run homer by infielder Aminah Vega and then a solo home run by infielder Tiare Jennings. In the bottom of the fourth, Oklahoma City outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena slammed a homer to left to cut into the lead.
However, the Volts offense found the charge again in inning number seven with four runs. Pitcher Aliyah Binford hit a solo shot to center field while Jennings added another RBI via a sacrifice fly. An RBI single by outfielder Jalia Lassiter and Vega scoring on a passed ball was the remaining offense in the inning for Texas.
Oklahoma City did add four runs in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double by Amari Harper and a three-run homer by Maya Brady. The Volts get into the win column with a 8 – 5 victory over the Spark. Right-hander Alyssa Denham notched the win for Texas, going six innings and allowing four hits with three strikeouts.
Texas Volts Vs. Oklahoma City Spark (Game Three)
Game Three was a tight one from start to finish between both teams. To start, pitcher Rachel Garcia put Texas on the board first in the second inning with an RBI single. Brady tied the game for the Spark in the bottom of the third as she scored on an error.
Next, infielder Sierra Romero gave the Volts a lead again in the fourth with a sacrifice fly RBI. In the top of the fifth, the Volts added to their lead via an RBI triple by Vega and a Jennings RBI single.
Yet, the Spark tied the game in the bottom of the inning with two RBIs by Nickles-Camarena and an RBI double by Delanie Wisz. Tied 4 – 4 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Sparks walked it off with a hit by pitch (HBP) RBI by Harper.
Portland Cascade Vs. Carolina Blaze (Game Two)
The Cascade are in search of their first win of the AUSL season and in franchise history. Facing the Carolina Blaze, Portland dropped Game One of the series 4 – 1. That being said, the bats of the Blaze were hot in this game. Despite a scoreless first inning, Carolina outfielder Dakota Kennedy hit a RBI single in the bottom of inning number two.
The Cascade got on the board in the top of the third with a Megan Grant two-run moon shot traveling down the right field line. In this case, that would be the lone offense for Portland as it was all Carolina afterwards. A Devyn Netz RBI single began the Blaze offense in their half of the third.
Outfielder Jenna Laird and Kayla Kowalik crossed the plate on a fielding error in the inning. Closing out the scoring in the third were two RBIs via a double by pitcher Aleshia Ocasio and infielder Ana Gold. Carolina picked up another win in the series by an 11 – 2 score in five innings. Karlyn Pickens threw all five frames as she allowed five hits and struck out five in the victory for the Blaze.
Portland Cascade Vs. Carolina Blaze (Game Three)
While Portland saw themselves on the losing end of the first two games versus Carolina, this game was much different. As the Blaze put the first run of game in inning number, the Cascade dominated in the top of the second with 12 runs.
A pair of RBI singles by outfielders Kendra Falby and Korbe Otis started the scoring for Portland. What’s more, Falby added another RBI single as Otis hit a grand slam later in the inning. Infielder Tori Vidales had two RBI with a double to center field as infielders Kennedy Powell and Kenleigh Cahalan supplied RBI singles. Last, but not least, infielder Sis Bates got an RBI by way of a HBP.
For the Blaze, infielder Aubrey Leach got an RBI single and outfielder McKenzie Clark scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the second. Although Netz hit a sacrifice fly RBI for Carolina in the bottom of the fifth, but it would not be enough.
Portland won their first-ever game in franchise history 12 – 4 in five innings. Righty Kenzie Brown got the complete game win, allowing four hits as she sat down five Blaze batters.
Chicago Bandits Vs. Utah Talons (Game Two)
In the game, it was all about pitching at Dumke Family Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. The lone run of the game from an RBI triple by Talons infielder Bri Ellis in the bottom of the second. Sarah Willis got the victory for Utah as the right-hander went five innings and allowed two hits with four strikeouts. Also, Megan Faraimo got the save following two shutout innings and two strikeouts in the 1 – 0 matchup.
Even in defeat, Chicago had great pitching efforts from left-hander Taylor McQuillin and righty Bri Copeland. McQuillin took the tough loss as she went two-and-two-thirds innings with the lone run, allowing four hits with two strikeouts. Copeland went three-and-a-third innings as she allowed three hits with two strikeouts.
Chicago Bandits Vs. Utah Talons (Game Three)
While the previous game was lacking offense, this game made up for it and more in the first inning. The top of the first saw the Bandits plate four runs. Infielder Erin Coffel hit an RBI single as did Jocelyn Erickson as Mary Iakopo hit a sacrifice fly RBI and outfielder Jessica Clements added a groundout RBI for Chicago.
Not to be outdone, the Talons would score five runs in the bottom of the first. Outfielder Jayda Coleman hit an RBI single while catcher Sharlize Palacios plated two runs with a triple. Additionally, outfielder Jadelyn Allchin hit a sacrifice fly RBI and the bat of Ellis homered to right field in the inning. The Bandits took a 6-5 lead in the top of the third with a two-run homer by infielder Sami Williams.
Outfielder Caroline Jacobsen gave the Talons the 8 – 6 lead in the bottom half of third with a three-run double. Yet, Chicago would tied the game in the fifth. Infielder Ailana Agbayani’s RBI single and an RBI sacrifice fly by infielder Taryn Kern.
On this occasion, the rematch of last season’s AUSL Championship would need extra innings. In the end, Utah won it 9 – 8. In this instance, it was a walk-off RBI single by Allchin in the bottom of the eighth.
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