The Quick Story: The Blaze (6-16) utilized a strong pitching effort from its staff and recorded their first shutout of the season after blanking the Talons (17-5), 2-0, to close out their four-game Athletes Unlimited Softball League series at Dumke Family Softball Stadium on Saturday evening.
Key Moment: Outfielder Korbe Otis doubled to open the bottom of the first inning before coming around to score on a fielder’s choice by infielder Baylee Klingler to give the Blaze a 1-0 lead. The slim advantage held until rookie infielder Ana Gold scampered home on a sacrifice fly by outfielder McKenzie Clark to secure the 2-0 victory.
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze pitching staff earned their first shutout of the season and matched a season low by scattering just three hits … The Blaze held Volts to just three hits on July 12.
- The Blaze were 7-for-16 in advancement opportunities, including 2-for-2 with runners on third base and fewer than two outs.
- The Blaze snapped a three-game losing streak and claimed their first victory against the Talons this season … The Talons won the season series by a 7-1 margin.
- Four of the Blaze’s six victories this season have been decided by two runs or less.
- The Blaze scored in the first inning for the 12th time in 22 games after an RBI from infielder Baylee Klingler … The Blaze also scored the game’s first run for the 10th time this year, including the third instance in four games during the series.
- Klingler’s RBI in the first inning marked her team-leading 16th run driven in this season … Thirteen of her 16 RBI have come against the Talons.
- Rookie outfielder Korbe Otis laced a double to left-center field in the first inning for her fifth two-bagger of the year … It was her first double since July 8 against the Bandits in Rosemont.
- The Florida product has reached base safely in six straight games.
- Outfielder Aliyah Andrews ran her hitting streak to four games after an infield single in the bottom of the third inning … She completed the season series against the Talons with a .522 batting average (12-for-23).
- Two-way player Devyn Netz tossed 3.0 innings and allowed just one hit, but did not factor in the decision.
- Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio garnered her first victory of the season after pitching 2.0 innings of relief and scattered just one hit, while pitcher Alana Vawter closed out the game by retiring all three batters she faced to secure her second save of the campaign.
Next Game: Tuesday, July 22 vs. Bandits (Rosemont, Illinois) | 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT
Talons Notes
- The Talons snapped a four-game winning streak with Saturday afternoon’s defeat.
- The Talons were held to just three hits in the defeat, matching a season low … The Bandits limited the Talons to three hits on June 9 and July 12.
- The Talons finished 2-for-7 in advancement opportunities, including an 0-for-6 clip with runners on base.
- Utility player Maya Brady extended her hitting streak to four games after legging out a double in the top of the fourth frame … The former UCLA standout is hitting .643 (8-for-11) during the four-game run with three extra-base hits, three RBI, three runs scored and three walks.
- Outfielder Jadelyn Allchin returned to the Talons’ roster on Saturday after being selected from the Reserve Athlete Pool … Allchin, who started in center field, had her streak of 16 consecutive games reaching base safely snapped after going 0-for-2 in the loss.
- Pitcher Montana Fouts took the loss in the circle, dropping 2-2 on the season after allowing one run over 4.0 innings. .
Next Game: Tuesday, July 22 vs. Volts (Tuscaloosa, Alabama) | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
