As the regular season of the AUSL is in rear view window, it is now every player for themselves. The AUSL Cup kicked off last weekend in Rosemont, Illinois as 45 of the best players compete for the chance to be a champion. In the opening series, the team captains were pitchers Rachel Garcia, Keilani Ricketts, and Georgina Corrick. Without further ado, here is a recap of the action between the teams.
Team Garcia Vs. Team Corrick
Following a scoreless first inning, Sharlize Palacios put Team Corrick on the board first via a solo home run in the bottom of the second. However, Team Garcia took the lead in the top of the third as Sydney Stewart scored on a wild pitch. Also, Sami Williams hit a two-run double to cap the three-run inning. Garcia’s squad would pick up the 3 – 1 win over Corrick’s squad.
Williams took home MVP 1 honors thanks to her two RBIs as teammate Karlyn Pickens was the MVP 2. Pickens picked up the save, going three-and-a-third inning while allowing four hits with two strikeouts. Despite the loss, Palacios garnered MVP 3 Honors as she drove in the lone run for Team Garcia. Lastly, Defensive MVP Honors went to Sydney Sherrill of Team Corrick.
Team Corrick Vs. Team Ricketts
In this game, Team Ricketts plated two runs in the bottom of the first with RBI doubles by Morgan Zerkle and Sydney Romero. Yet, Team Ricketts would take the lead in the top of the third via a Megan Grant grand slam. Ricketts’ team added a run with an RBI single by Baylee Klingler, but it would not be enough as Team Corrick won 4 – 2.
Here, Grant and her four-RBI performance was given MVP 1 honors as pitcher Megan Faraimo won MVP 2 Honors. Faraimo struck out five and allowed two hits in three-and-a-third innings of work while Lexi Kilfoyl was the MVP 3. Kilfoyl got the save in the victory. For Team Corrick, Kenleigh Cahalan was the Defensive MVP.
Team Ricketts Vs. Team Garcia
In this case. one team was searching for win No. 1 of the series (Garcia) and the other for their second win (Ricketts). To begin, Tiare Jennings gave Team Ricketts the early lead with a double-play RBI in the top of the first. It is important to note that no runs were scored until the sixth inning from Ricketts’ squad. An RBI single by Reese Atwood as well as a two-run double by Klingler made it a 4 – 0 game.
Although Skylar Wallace hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth, Team Garcia fell to Team Ricketts by a score of 4 – 1. Klingler was the MVP 1 with her two RBIs. Pitchers Kenzie Brown and Amber Fiser took home MVP 2 and 3 Honors, respectively.
Brown allowed a hit with three strikeouts in three-and-a-third innings in the circle. As for Fiser, she went two-and-two-thirds innings while striking out three in the win. Finally, Rylie Boone of Team Garcia was the Defensive MVP.
Looking at Series Two, the captains will be Klingler, Brown, and Ricketts for the second straight series. Catch all the action between the teams starting on Aug 14 to Aug 16 on the CBS Sports Network, MLB Network, and ESPN.
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