While the Women’s College World Series wrapped up last Thursday, the wait for softball was not long. Opening Day for Season Two of the AUSL kicked off in Durham, North Carolina at Smith Family Stadium. Here, the Carolina Blaze hosted one of the two new teams in the AUSL, the Portland Cascade.
Portland Cascade Vs. Carolina Blaze
In the top of third inning, infielder Sis Bates made history with the first hit for the Cascade. Also, Bates scored the first run in team history later in the inning thanks to an RBI double by outfielder Kendra Falby.
For the Blaze, Aleshia Ocasio tied the game 1-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. Infielder Aubrey Leach later gave Carolina the lead in the inning with a two-run single to left center.
Finally, the Blaze would add a run in the fifth with a solo home run by Devyn Netz to left center. Ultimately, the Blaze notched the victory of the AUSL season, 4-1 over the Cascade.
Ocasio went four innings as the right-hander allowed three hits, and earned run and striking out two for the win. Keilani Ricketts got the save as the lefty tossed three shutout innings, allowing a hit and sitting down three Portland batters.
Texas Volts Vs. Oklahoma City Spark
Next, Game Two on Opening Day was at Tom Heath Field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as the Volts faced the other new franchise in the AUSL, the Oklahoma City Spark. Following a scoreless first inning, the Spark lived up to their name in the bottom of the second.
Catcher Grace Jenkins got the first RBI for Oklahoma City in their AUSL history via a walk. One batter later, Maya Brady provided the long ball to center field for a grand slam. What’s more, infielder Sydney Romero went yard with a solo homer for a six-run inning. Texas closed the gap in the top of third with an RBI single by infielder Aminah Vega and a grand slam of their own by infielder Tiare Jennings.
With the game 6-5 in favor of the Spark after four innings, infielder Delanie Wisz added to the lead in the fifth with a solo homer. Sydney Sherrill hit a two-run double while Romero scored on an error in the inning.
The sixth inning saw more Spark offense with a solo shot by Jessi Warren, a Brady RBI single, and Amari Harper scoring on an error. In the end, Oklahoma City won their opener by a 13 – 5 score over Texas.
Sparks pitcher Maya Johnson went six innings as the southpaw allowed five earned runs, four Volts hits, and three strikeouts.
Chicago Bandits Vs. Utah Talons
Last, but not least, the nightcap of the triple-header was a rematch of the inaugural AUSL Championship Game. The defending champion Utah Talons hosted the Chicago Bandits at Dumke Family Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the top of the first, Chicago took an early 2 – 0 lead with an RBI single by infielder Erin Coffel and an RBI double by infielder Taryn Kern.
However, the lead would be short-lived come the bottom of the second as the bat of Bri Ellis hit a two-run homer to tie the game. Utah grabbed the lead as Sahvanna Jaquish scored on an error and a Jayda Coleman sacrifice fly RBI in the third inning. Ellis added another RBI in the fourth with a double as the Talons get the win 5 – 2 over the Bandits to conclude Opening Day for the AUSL.
It’s important to note that Montana Fouts went the distance for Utah in the circle. She allowed eight hits, sat down four Bandits, and gave up four hits.
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