The Quick Story: Infielder Hannah Flippen’s three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning lifted the Talons to a 10-8 victory over the Blaze in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League series finale between the two teams at Frost Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Key Moment: In another high-scoring affair, Flippen provided the winning margin when she belted a three-run home run to right center field off pitcher Aleshia Ocasio to reclaim the advantage for the Talons. Pitcher Megan Faraimo sealed the victory by retiring all three Blaze hitters she faced in the bottom of the final frame.
Talons Notes
- After being held to just seven runs in their season-opening series against the Bandits, the Talons exploded for 31 runs on 32 hits in the three-game set against the Blaze … They also became the second team in the AUSL to register a series sweep after the Bandits took all three games this weekend against the Volts.
- The Talons now lead the AUSL with 10 home runs through six games after adding three more homers on Sunday … They registered seven of their 10 home runs during the three-game series against the Blaze.
- The Talons were 18-for-26 in advancement opportunities, but left 11 runners on base in the victory on Sunday … They left 25 runners on base in the three-game series against the Blaze.
- Infielder Bri Ellis launched her first professional home run in the top of the third inning … The former Arkansas product hit 26 home runs in her final campaign with the Razorbacks this past spring.
- The home run extended Ellis’ hitting streak to four consecutive games.
- The Talons scored 13 of their 31 runs in the first two innings during the three-game series.
- Infielder Hannah Flippen posted her third multi-hit game in the last four outings after finishing with a 4-for-5 effort … She drove in two runs with a single in the first inning before adding a single in the fourth inning in addition to her three-run home run in the seventh inning.
- Flippen became the second player in the AUSL to collect four hits in a game this season … Infielder Baylee Klingler notched the first four-hit game in league history on Saturday with a 4-for-5 effort in the series opener.
- Flippen has now driven in 10 runs over her last three games … She had three runs batted in during Saturday’s opener before adding a pair of RBI in the nightcap.
- Rookie outfielder Sierra Sacco has hit safely in 5-of-6 games this season after her solo home run in the fifth inning … She has also notched two hits in four of her last five outings.
- Infielder Tori Vidales has registered a hit in four of her five appearances this season following a single in the fourth inning … The former Texas A&M standout also added a single in the seventh inning to post her first multi-hit game of the season.
- Infielder Ali Aguilar reached base in four of her five plate appearances after being hit by a pitch twice along with drawing two walks … She joined Bandits infielder Skylar Wallace as the only players in the league to be hit by a pitch multiple times in the same game.
Next Game: Tuesday, June 17 vs. Bandits (Wichita, Kan.) | 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze initiated a coach’s challenge in the top of the third inning to challenge if infielder Sydney Romero left first base early … The challenge was unsuccessful as the call on the field was upheld.
- The Blaze initiated another coach’s challenge in the bottom of the third frame to challenge an out call on infielder Baylee Klingler at second base … The challenge was unsuccessful as the call on the field was upheld.
- The Blaze left six runners on base in the series finale on Sunday, upping their series total to 22 runners left on base in three games.
- Klingler belted the first grand slam in AUSL history on the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the fourth inning … The four-run shot put the Blaze in front by a 7-5 count, which also marked their first lead of the series.
- Klingler notched her fourth multi-hit game of the season, including her third contest with three or more hits, after closing the series with a 3-for-3 effort on Sunday … She fashioned 8 of her 14 hits this season in the weekend set.
- Klingler finished the three-game series with 11 runs batted in … After driving in seven runs during the series opener on Saturday, she added four RBI in the series finale on Sunday.
- Infielder Ana Gold has hit safely in four of her last five games with three multi-hit efforts during that span.
- Outfielder Korbe Otis has registered a hit in four of her last five contests following a 2-for-4 showing in Sunday’s series finale.
- Infielder Aubrey Leach drew three walks in Sunday’s series finale, becoming the second player in the league with three walks in a single game … Talons outfielder Caroline Jacobsen had three walks against the Blaze on Saturday.
- Infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton has hit safely in four consecutive games after recording a single to right field in the third inning … She has six hits during the four-game run, including a pair of two-hit performances on Saturday.
Next Game: Tuesday, June 17 vs. Volts (Wichita, Kan.) | 9:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. CT
