The Quick Story: Infielder Ali Aguilar drove in the game-winning run with a double in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Talons (13-3) to their eighth win in a row, an 8-7 victory over the Bandits (10-6) in Athletes Unlimited Softball League action at Connie Claussen Field on Friday evening.
Key Moment: The Bandits took a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth inning before the Talons scored twice in the bottom of the frame to secure the comeback victory. Outfielder Victoria Hayward tied the game at 7-all with an infield single before Aguilar followed with a double to left center field to bring home infielder Sydney Romero for the game-winning run.
Bandits Notes
- The Bandits suffered their first loss in three extra-inning games this season … They previously registered a 6-5 win over the Volts on June 12 and a 5-4 verdict against the Blaze on Wednesday.
- The Bandits have now lost four of their last five games after a four-game win streak.
- The Bandits matched a season high by scoring six runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-5 lead … They also had six runs during the fourth inning against the Blaze on June 20.
- It is the sixth time this season a team has plated six runs in a single inning this season.
- The top five hitters in the Bandits’ lineup accounted for seven of the team’s 10 hits on Friday night.
- The Bandits were 10-for-17 in advancement opportunities and 5-for-14 with runners on base.
- The Bandits finished with 10 hits for the 10th time in 16 games this season … They also outhit their opponent for the ninth time and own a 7-2 record in those instances.
- Infielder Skylar Wallace has now hit safely in 14-of-16 games, including the last three outings, after her single in the first inning … She has also reached base safely in 15-of-16 appearances.
- Infielder Sydney McKinney has a hit in eight of her last nine outings after contributing a single in the top of the fourth inning … She also registered three hits in a game for the third time this season after adding a single in the fifth inning and another single in the seventh inning.
- McKinney ranks second on the squad with eight multi-hit games this season.
- Infielder Erin Coffel was hit by a pitch twice against the Talons on Friday, marking the third time this season she has been plunked by multiple pitches … Coffel leads the league with 11 times being hit by a pitch.
- Coffel also has at least one hit in 11 of her last 12 outings after her two-run single down the right field line in the fifth inning … She has collected a hit in 13-of-15 games this season.
- Outfielder Morgan Zerkle has hit safely in 10 of her last 11 games after recording a double down the left field line in the fifth inning.
- Outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena has a hit in four of her last six contests following her three-run home run to cap the Bandits’ six-run fifth inning … It was Nickles-Camarena’s fourth home run of the season.
- Infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton, who was acquired by the Bandits in a trade deadline deal with the Blaze, fashioned a 1-for-2 effort in her debut on Friday with a run scored.
- Outfielder Bella Dayton has a three-game hitting streak after going 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.
- Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl (3-1) suffered her first loss of the season after giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits over 4.2 innings.
- Pitcher Taylor McQuillin, who made her second start of the season, did not factor in the decision after conceding five runs on four hits in 3.0 innings with five strikeouts.
Talons Notes
- The Talons initiated a coach’s challenge in the top of the seventh inning when infielder Erin Coffel was hit by a pitch … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld.
- The Talons also requested a coach’s challenge in the top of the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton, saying the runner left third base early … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld.
- The Talons have won 12 of their last 13 games after dropping 2-of-3 games against the Bandits to open the season.
- The Talons played their second extra-inning game of the season … They defeated the Volts by an 8-3 count on June 22 after plating five runs in the eighth inning.
- The Talons scored first for the 12th time in 16 games this season … They now own a league-best 11-1 record in those outings.
- The Talons also belted a home run for the 11th time in 16 games this season after outfielder Jadelyn Allchin hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning.
- The Talons posted their eighth game with multiple home runs after infielder Hannah Flippen added a solo shot in the bottom of the third inning.
- The Talons set a season high with four home runs in Friday night’s victory, eclipsing the previous high of three homers they hit against the Blaze on June 15 … The four home runs also equaled the AUSL single-game high after the Bandits belted four home runs against the Blaze on June 22.
- The Bandits and the Talons combined to hit five home runs in Friday’s series opener, tying the league single-game high this season … The Blaze and the Bandits teamed up to blast five homers on June 23 in Wichita.
- The Talons have been hit by a pitch multiple times in a game seven times this season after two instances against the Bandits on Friday … They lead the AUSL with 24 times being hit by a pitch through 16 games.
- Seven of the Talons’ nine starters registered at least one hit … Infielder Sydney Romero (0-for-3) and designated player Bri Ellis (0-for-1) were the only players without a base hit.
- Infielder Tori Vidales has hit safely in four of her last five games after driving a double to left center field in the bottom of the second inning … She has now registered at least one hit in 12-of-15 outings this season.
- Catcher Sharlize Palacios authored her fourth multi-hit game of the season with a pair of singles … She has hit safely in 10-of-16 games this season.
- Outfielder Sierra Sacco hit her third home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo shot to even the score at 6-all … It was her first home run since June 15 against the Blaze.
- Allchin has posted a hit in four of her last five games following her home run in the third inning.
- Infielder Hannah Flippen has a hit in five of her last seven fixtures following her home run in the bottom of the third inning.
- Outfielder Caroline Jacobsen belted her second home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning, marking the 11th time in the last 12 games she has tallied at least one hit.
- Pitcher Georgina Corrick had her streak of 21.1 scoreless innings come to an end when outfielder Morgan Zerkle hit an RBI double down the left field line in the top of the fifth inning … It was the first run allowed by Corrick since the third inning against the Bandits on June 19.
- Corrick became the first pitcher in the league to record five wins after upping her record to 5-0.
- Pitcher Raelin Chaffin did not allow an earned run in 3.0 innings of relief … She scattered three hits in her appearance out of the bullpen while adding one strikeout.
Next Game: Saturday, July 12 | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
