Bandits erase 5-run deficit, defeat Blaze 9-7

The Quick Story: The Bandits (9-2) overcame a five-run deficit to extend their winning streak to four games with a 9-7 Athletes Unlimited Softball League victory over the Blaze (1-10) at Wilkins Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Key Moment: After falling behind by a 6-1 margin in the third inning, the Bandits plated eight runs in the final three innings to earn the come-from-behind victory. The Bandits scored four runs in the fifth inning, including a three-run home run by outfielder Morgan Zerkle, before adding three runs in the sixth inning and another tally in the final frame.

Bandits Notes

The Bandits have won eight of their last nine games after losing to the Talons by a 6-3 count on June 8 … They have fashioned a pair of four-game win streaks, which are tied for the longest in the league this season.
The Bandits have posted eight consecutive double-digit hit efforts after finishing with 13 hits in Sunday’s victory, matching their season high set in Saturday’s win … The Bandits now have 109 hits in 11 games, which leads the AUSL.
The Bandits have scored six or more runs in eight of their last nine games after finishing with nine runs on Sunday … In addition, the Bandits have averaged 9.8 runs per game during their four-game win streak.
The Bandits are 8-0 this season when scoring six or more runs in a game.
The Bandits also improved to 8-0 when scoring first this season after plating a run in the top of the first inning.
The Bandits, who have hit a home run in 10 consecutive games, slugged an AUSL season-high four homers in Sunday’s victory … The squad now has 18 home runs in 11 fixtures, including six games with multiple home runs.
The Bandits trailed by a 6-1 margin in the third inning before earning the win on Sunday, marking the largest comeback win in the AUSL this season.
Infielder Skylar Wallace singled in the first inning to increase her hitting streak to 10 straight games … She has also reached base safely in all 11 games this season.
Wallace also added a solo home run in the fifth inning to earn her third multi-hit game of the campaign.
Outfielder Bella Dayton extended her hitting streak to three straight games with a single in the fifth inning … She has registered at least one hit in 7-of-11 appearances this season.
Outfielder Morgan Zerkle ignited the Bandits’ comeback by belting a three-run home run to center field in the fifth inning … The former Marshall standout now has a league-best four round-trippers.
Infielder Erin Coffel launched her third home run of the season in the sixth inning to give the Bandits an 8-7 lead … Eight of her 11 hits this season have gone for extra bases.
Outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena authored her first multi-hit game of the year after going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run … Nickles-Camarena has now registered a hit in 7-of-11 games this season.
Catcher Jordan Roberts recorded her second multi-hit game of the season after a two-hit performance on Sunday … She posted a single in the fifth and sixth innings.
Pitcher Taylor McQuillin improved to 2-0 after allowing one hit without a run over the final 2.1 innings … She also added a pair of strikeouts while lowering her earned run average to 1.58.
Pitcher Emiley Kennedy threw a season-high 4.2 innings in relief on Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits with a strikeout.

Blaze Notes

The Blaze called for a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the first inning to challenge an out call at first base on a grounder by infielder Aubrey Leach … The challenge was successful and the call at first was reversed to give Leach a single.
The Blaze’s seven runs marked their highest single-game scoring output since plating eight runners against the Talons on June 15 in Chattanooga … The team had scored a combined eight runs in its previous four games entering Sunday’s tilt.
The Blaze have now lost eight consecutive games … The Blaze’s last victory came against the Volts with a 3-1 result on June 9 at Wilkins Stadium.
The Blaze finished with 11 hits to post their fourth double-digit hit performance this season, including the second game in a row … The Blaze have registered 21 hits in the last two games after totaling just 12 base knocks in their previous three contests.
Infielder Ana Gold finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle after going 3-for-4 at the plate … She secured her second three-hit game of the year and her first multi-hit performance since a two-hit night against the Talons on June 15 in Chattanooga.
Outfielder McKenzie Clark made her Blaze debut after being acquired via trade from the Volts earlier in the day … She went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Outfielder Korbe Otis lined a double to the center field wall in the first inning … It was the Blaze’s first extra-base hit since June 18 against the Volts … The Blaze collected four extra-base hits after posting 16 extra-base hits in their first 10 games.
Catcher Ally Shipman-Shrout recorded her first hit with the Blaze after earning a single in the bottom of the fifth inning … She joined the Blaze ahead of Saturday’s game after opening the season with the Talons.
Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio registered her first complete game of the season in the loss … Ocasio becomes the fourth different pitcher to accomplish the feat this season.
Ocasio dropped to 0-3 on the season after allowing nine runs on 13 hits with two strikeouts.