Bandits stay hot with season-best 13 hits in 11-3 victory

The Quick Story: The Bandits extended their winning streak to three games after dispatching the Blaze with an 11-3 victory in Athletes Unlimited Softball League action at Wilkins Stadium on Saturday evening.

Key Moment: The Bandits, who raised their league-best record to 8-2, surged ahead with a four-run second inning and never looked back en route to the convincing victory. Outfielders Bella Dayton and Morgan Zerkle each produced an RBI double, including a two-run double by Zerkle, before a single by infielder Skylar Wallace upped the advantage to 4-0.

Bandits Notes

The Bandits set a new season high with 13 hits against the Blaze on Saturday, marking the seventh straight game the squad has authored 10 or more hits.
The Bandits hit at least one home run for the ninth consecutive contest after a pair of homers on Saturday afternoon.
Ten of the Bandits’ 11 runs came with two outs … The Bandits were 8-for-15 in two-out situations and 6-for-15 with runners on base.
Six of the 13 base hits for the Bandits went for extra bases, including four doubles … The four doubles match the league single-game high after the Talons had four doubles against the Bandits on June 8.
Outfielder Morgan Zerkle finished with a 2-for-5 effort at the plate, marking her fifth consecutive multi-hit game … She has tallied 12 hits during the last five games.
Infielder Skylar Wallace laced a ground-rule double to left-center field in the first inning, which extended her hitting streak to nine consecutive games.
- Wallace singled in the second inning to post her second multi-hit game of the season.
- Wallace has now reached base safely in all 10 games this season, joining Volts outfielder Amanda Lorenz as the only players in the AUSL to accomplish the feat.
Pitcher Devyn Netz crushed her second home run of the season with a three-run blast in the top of the fourth inning … The former Arizona standout has now homered in back-to-back games.
- Netz has now hit safely in five of her last six games, including the last three outings in a row.
Outfielder Bella Dayton became the third player in the AUSL to register a four-hit game this season after going 4-for-4 with two doubles and a run batted in … It marked her third multi-hit game of the season, including her second outing with three or more hits.
- Blaze infielder Baylee Klingler was the first player with four hits in a game after doing so against the Talons on June 14 … Talons infielder Hannah Flippen followed with a four-hit game against the Blaze in the series finale last Sunday.
Dayton also became the fourth player in the AUSL this season to register a pair of doubles in the same game … She doubled to left center in the second inning before doubling down the right-field line in the third inning.
- Talons infielders Tori Vidales and Hannah Flippen each had two doubles in a game this season, while Volts infielder Tiare Jennings tallied two doubles against the Blaze on June 17.
Pitcher Odicci Alexander improved her record to 2-1 after allowing just one hit over 3.0 innings with four strikeouts.
Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl did not factor in the decision after allowing two runs on six hits in 3.0 innings while adding four strikeouts … Kilfoyl has now allowed just three runs over her last 11.0 innings.

Blaze Notes

The Blaze requested a coach’s challenge in the top of the sixth inning when infielder Sydney McKinney was called safe at second base on an attempted double play … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld.
The Blaze saw their leadoff hitter reach base in 4-of-7 opportunities and notched six of their 10 hits with runners on base.
The Blaze, who dropped their seventh game in a row, have been held to three runs or less in 7-of-10 games this season, including the last four in a row.
After tallying five stolen bases through their first nine games, the Blaze swiped three bases in the bottom of the third inning in Saturday’s loss.
Infielder Aubrey Leach authored her second multi-hit game of the season after going 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk.
Utility player Kayla Kowalik posted her first multi-hit game of the season with a pair of singles … She entered the game with just three hits in her first nine outings.
Rookie Emma Lemley became the third pitcher in the AUSL this season to spin a complete game after going the distance for the Blaze on Saturday … Lemley dropped to 1-1 after allowing eight earned runs on 13 hits with four strikeouts.
- Volts pitcher Rachel Garcia has two complete games to her credit, while Talons pitcher Georgina Corrick authored the first complete game shutout in league history on Saturday against the Volts.
Catcher Ally Shipman-Shrout made her Blaze debut after being added to the roster on Saturday … She previously spent time with the Talons before being reassigned to the Reserve Athlete Pool on Thursday.