The Quick Story: Infielder Aubrey Leach posted four hits and pitcher Emma Lemley allowed one run over 3.0 innings as the Blaze (3-11) secured their second win in the last three games, a 12-10 Athletes Unlimited Softball League victory over the Bandits (9-5) in front of a sold-out crowd at Parkway Bank Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon.
Key Moment: The Blaze erupted for nine runs over the first three innings and built a 9-5 lead before the Bandits mounted a comeback bid with three runs in the bottom of the frame for a 9-8 margin. The Blaze added single tallies in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to nail down the victory.
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze requested a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the fifth inning on an infield single by outfielder Morgan Zerkle … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld.
- The Blaze matched their season high with their 12-run outburst on Tuesday evening … They also matched their season high with 17 hits, equaling the 17-hit effort against the Talons on June 14.
- The Blaze scored first for just the third time in their 14 games this season after plating a pair of runs in the opening inning on Tuesday.
- The Blaze became the second team to score in each of the first four innings this season after exploding for 10 runs in their first four trips to the plate … The Talons scored 12 runs in the first four innings against the Blaze in their 14-12 victory on June 14.
- The Blaze have recorded 10 or more hits in four of their last five games after doing so just twice in their first nine outings.
- All nine starters collected at least one hit in the victory for the Blaze on Tuesday … The top five hitters in the lineup contributed 12 of the team’s 17 hits.
- The Blaze set a season high with seven extra-base hits against the Bandits on Tuesday … In the last three games, the squad has tallied 14 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles, one triple and three home runs.
- The Blaze scored 10 or more runs for the third time this season, which is tied for the AUSL lead with the Bandits … They are 2-1 in those fixtures.
- The Blaze did not allow a home run for just the second time in 14 games this season.
- The Blaze outhit the Bandits by a 17-15 margin in Tuesday’s victory, marking the fourth time this season they have held an advantage in hits.
- The Blaze have stolen 12 bases over the seven games after swiping three bases in their first seven contests.
- Infielder Aubrey Leach collected a season-high four hits, becoming the fourth player in the AUSL to record a four-hit game this season … She has posted three multi-hit games in her last four outings and has scored at least one run in five of her last six contests.
- Infielder Ana Gold has nine hits in her last five games after matching her season high with three hits against the Bandits … The rookie from Duke authored her second three-hit performance of the season (June 22 vs. Bandits).
- Utility player Kayla Kowalik registered multiple hits for the third time in her last five games after going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks.
- Outfielder Korbe Otis has hit safely in four of her last five games after going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run … She also matched her season high by scoring three runs while driving in a season-high three runs.
- Outfielder Aliyah Andrews owns a three-game hitting streak after going 1-for-3 with a run scored.
- Infielder Anissa Urtez has authored a hit in five of her last six games after going 1-for-3 with a RBI double in the sixth inning.
- Pitcher Emma Lemley upped her record to 2-1 after giving up one run on three hits over 3.0 innings with a season-high five strikeouts.
- Pitcher Alana Vawter earned her first save of the season after allowing one run on four hits in the seventh inning.
- Pitcher Aliyah Binford made her professional debut on Tuesday afternoon, allowing five runs on four hits in 1.2 innings.
Talons Notes
- The Bandits initiated a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the third inning when outfielder Morgan Zerkle was called out at home plate to end the inning … The challenge was unsuccessful after the play was upheld.
- The Bandits hold a 3-2 lead in the season series against the Blaze, but have dropped the last two installments.
- The Bandits scored 10 or more runs for the third time this season, matching the Blaze for the league lead … They also set a season high with their 12 runs and 15 hits.
- After winning four consecutive games, the Bandits have lost three games in a row … They have been outscored 28-16 during the three-game losing streak.
- The Bandits’ top four hitters in the lineup accounted for 10 of the team’s 15 hits against the Blaze on Tuesday.
- The Bandits were 13-for-25 in advancement opportunities and 9-for-22 with runners on base … They also went 6-for-17 with runners in scoring position against the Blaze on Tuesday.
- Zerkle became the fifth player in the AUSL to record a four-hit game this season after going 4-for-5 with a double and three runs batted in … She has registered multiple hits in eight of her last nine games.
- Infielder Erin Coffel became the first player in any Athletes Unlimited softball game to collect two triples in the same game … Coffel, who has reached base safely in all 13 appearances this season, drove in a run with a triple in the first inning before adding a triple down the left field line in the seventh inning.
- Coffel, who fashioned her third multi-hit game of the season, has registered a hit in nine of her last 10 games after setting a season high with three hits.
- Infielder Sydney McKinney tied her season high with three hits against the Blaze on Tuesday … The former Wichita State product has hit safely in six of her last seven games, including five multi-hit efforts.
- Infielder Skylar Wallace has hit safely in 12 of her last 13 games after going 2-for-4 with two runs scored … She has also reached base safely in 13-of-14 outings this season.
- Pitcher Sarah Willis dipped to 1-1 after giving up five runs on five hits in 1.1 innings.
- The Bandits committed four errors in Tuesday’s loss against the Blaze, marking the most miscues by a team in a game this season.
- The Bandits were outhit for just the fourth time in 14 games this season and lost for the first time in nine games when scoring six or more runs.
- The Bandits have scored in the first inning in 9-of-14 games this season, posting a 6-3 record in those outings … They also allowed a run in the opening frame for just the fourth time this season.
- The Bandits failed to hit a home run for just the third time this season.
Next Game: Wednesday, July 9 | 11:30 a.m. ET/10:30 a.m. CT
