The Quick Story: Utility player Maya Brady authored three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as the Talons (16-4) earned their third win in a row, a 5-4 Athletes Unlimited Softball League victory over the Blaze (5-15) at Dumke Family Softball Stadium on Thursday night.
Key Moment: Trailing by a 4-3 margin, the Talons reclaimed the advantage when Brady smashed her first home run of the season with a two-run shot down the left field line. Pitchers Raelin Chaffin and Georgina Corrick held the Blaze to just three hits over the final 3.0 innings to nail down the victory.
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze asked for a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the fifth inning to challenge if a single down the third base line by Talons infielder Sydney Romero was fair or foul … The challenge was unsuccessful and the call on the field was upheld.
- The Blaze also requested a coach’s challenge in the top of the seventh inning to determine whether infielder Ana Gold was hit by a pitch … The challenge was unsuccessful after it was determined the pitch was not in the batter’s box and Gold was not awarded a hit by pitch.
- The Blaze scored first for the ninth time this season and plated a run in the opening frame for the 11th time in 20 games … They are now 3-6 when scoring first in addition to a 3-8 record when scoring in the first inning.
- Outfielder Baylee Klingler launched her third home run of the season in the top of the first inning to give the Blaze an early 1-0 lead … It was her first home run since a grand slam against the Talons on June 15.
- Klingler is now 9-for-18 (.500) in five games against the Talons this season … She has totaled 12 RBI with three home runs and a double.
- Two-way player Devyn Netz has driven in a run in back-to-back games after her two-run single in the top of the second inning … She homered against the Volts on July 13 for her first hit with the Blaze after joining the team at the AUSL trade deadline.
- Infielder Ana Gold extended her hitting streak to five games after posting a single in the bottom of the first inning on Thursday night.
- Outfielder Aliyah Andrews matched her season high with three hits against the Talons on Thursday night … She also had three hits against the Talons on June 14 in the first game of a doubleheader.
- Andrews had notched four total hits in her previous nine games prior to her three-hit performance.
- Infielder Aubrey Leach saw her 11-game streak of reaching base safely come to an end after going 0-for-3 at the plate in the loss.
- Pitcher Aliyah Binford dropped to 0-1 after giving up two runs on one hit in 1.0 inning with a walk.
Talons Notes
- The Talons initiated a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the second inning to review if there was catcher’s interference on a foul ball by outfielder Sierra Sacco … The call on the field was upheld and the challenge was unsuccessful (foul ball).
- The Talons have won 11 of their last 12 games to take over first place in the AUSL standings … The Talons can clinch the top seed in the AUSL Championship with two wins in their final four games.
- The Talons will face the Bandits in the best-of-three series at Rhoads Stadium on July 26-28 … The Bandits clinched their berth after an 8-7 victory over the Volts earlier on Thursday.
- The Talons have scored 22 runs in the first inning after a three-run outburst in the opening frame on Thursday night … The 22 runs in the first inning matches the 22 runs scored in the third frame by the squad this season.
- Utility player Maya Brady launched her first home run of the season with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth to give the Talons a 4-3 advantage … She is 5-for-5 with two RBI, three runs scored and a pair of walks since being reinstated from the Injured List.
- Infielder Hannah Flippen became the second player in the AUSL to reach 20 RBI after a two-run single in the bottom of the first inning … She ranks second in the league behind Bandits infielder Erin Coffel, who paces the circuit with 25 RBI.
- Infielder Sydney Romero registered a hit in her second straight game with a pair of doubles on Thursday night
- Pitcher Mariah Lopez made her first appearance since July 12 as she entered the game in the top of the second inning at her alma mater … She retired the only batter she faced.
- Pitcher Georgina Corrick earned her second save of the season after scattering one hit over 1.2 innings with one strikeout … It is also the Talons’ seventh save this season, which leads the AUSL.
- Pitcher Raelin Chaffin earned her sixth win of the season after allowing three hits in 3.2 innings with no runs scored and two strikeouts … She is tied with Corrick for the league lead with six victories.
Next Game: Friday, July 18 | 9 p.m. ET/7 p.m. MT
Probably Starting Pitchers: Mariah Lopez (0-1, 8.25) vs. Aliyah Binford 0-1, 8.08)
