The Quick Story: The Bandits overcame a 4-1 deficit by scoring seven unanswered runs, including a four-run sixth inning, to earn their fifth win in the last six games, an 8-4 victory over the Talons to open Thursday’s Athletes Unlimited Softball League doubleheader at Wilkins Stadium.
Key Moment: After falling behind in the second inning, the Bandits plated a run in the third inning and added two more runs in the fourth inning before infielder Erin Coffel blasted a grand slam to give the squad an 8-4 lead in the sixth inning it did not relinquish.
Bandits Notes
- The Bandits scored six or more runs for the fifth time this season, improving to a perfect 5-0 in those instances … The squad also scored in the first inning for the sixth time in eight games, while scoring first for the fifth time.
- The Bandits are 5-1 when scoring in the first inning this season along with a 5-0 record when scoring first.
- The Bandits own a 3-2 record in the series against the Talons after Thursday’s victory … The two teams will meet for a three-game set in Omaha on July 11-13 to complete the season series.
- The Bandits have posted 10 or more hits in five consecutive games after finishing Thursday’s series finale with 10 hits.
- The win allows the Bandits to take a one-game lead in the AUSL standings over the Talons … The two teams split the two-game set in Wichita after the Talons secured a 5-4 comeback win on Wednesday night.
- The Bandits’ leadoff hitters reached base safely in 5-of-7 innings in Thursday’s matinee.
- Infielder Erin Coffel ran her hitting streak to seven games in a row after her RBI double in the top of the first inning … She also added a grand slam in the sixth inning for her second multi-hit game of the season.
- Coffel has driven in 11 runs over the last five games, including eight RBI in this week’s two-game set against the Talons.
- Coffel became the second AUSL player to hit a grand slam this season … Blaze infielder Baylee Klingler hit the first grand slam in league history on June 14 against the Talons in Chattanooga.
- Coffel has now hit a home run in back-to-back games … She is the fourth Bandits player with multiple home runs this season.
- Infielder Skylar Wallace also extended her hitting streak to seven games in a row after notching a single in the first inning.
- Coffel and Wallace have also reached base safely in all eight games this season.
- Outfielder Morgan Zerkle blasted her AUSL-leading third home run of the season in the third inning to trim the deficit to 4-2 … The former Marshall standout and current Thundering Herd head coach also added a pair of singles for a three-hit effort, tying her season high.
- Zerkle has tallied eight hits in her last three games after recording three total hits in her first five outings.
- Outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena has hit safely in six of her last seven games, including the last four in a row, after collecting a single in the sixth inning.
- Infielder Sydney McKinney has registered a hit in five of her last six contests after contributing a pair of hits … McKinney, who authored her third multi-hit outing of the season, singled in the sixth and seventh innings.
- Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl became the first player in the AUSL with three wins in the circle this season … She scattered three hits over the final 3.0 innings while posting three strikeouts to remain perfect at 3-0.
- Pitcher Devyn Netz has not allowed a run in her last two appearances in the circle after throwing 2.1 scoreless frames against the Talons … Netz, who gave up just three hits on Thursday, did not allow a run in 3.1 innings against the Volts on June 13.
Bandits’ Next Game: Friday, June 20 vs. Blaze (Wichita, Kan.) | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
Talons Notes
- The Talons saw their four-game win streak come to a close with Thursday’s loss … They outscored their opponents by a 36-30 margin during the four-game run, including a 5-4 victory over the Bandits on Wednesday night.
- The Talons recorded 10 or more hits for the third time this season after ending Thursday’s game with 10 hits … In the last five games, the team is averaging 10.2 hits, including a pair of 12-hit performances against the Blaze in last weekend’s series in Chattanooga.
- The Talons were 10-for-18 in advancement opportunities and registered five of their 10 hits with runners on base.
- Infielder Hannah Flippen extended her hitting streak to five games after posting a pair of hits in the loss on Thursday … Flippen has notched 10 hits in the five-game run, including a four-hit performance against the Blaze on Sunday.
- Outfielder Caroline Jacobsen has hit safely in four straight games after collecting a season-high three hits … She hit a double to left field in the second inning before adding a pair of singles in the fifth and seventh innings.
- Infielder Tori Vidales has hit safely in 6-of-7 games this season following her 1-for-4 performance on Thursday.
- Outfielder Jadelyn Allchin owns a four-game hitting streak after her 2-for-3 showing against the Bandits on Thursday … She also slugged her first home run of the season as part of the Talons’ four-run outburst in the second inning.
- Designated player Ally Shipman-Shrout smashed her second home run in as many games in the second inning.
- Outfielder Sierra Sacco saw her four-game hitting streak come to an end after going 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Pitcher Raelin Chaffin suffered her first loss of the season in the circle after allowing three runs on three hits over 2.0 innings with one strikeout … The rookie from Mississippi State now stands at 2-1 on the season.
- Pitcher Georgina Corrick did not factor in the decision, conceding three runs on four hits over 3.0 innings in her first start of the season … She also notched three strikeouts.
Talons’ Next Game: Friday, June 20 vs. Volts (Norman, Okla.) | 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT
