The Quick Story: The Blaze erupted for 11 runs, including a six-run outburst in the sixth inning, to secure an 11-3 run-rule victory over the Bandits in Athletes Unlimited Softball League action at Wilkins Stadium on Monday evening.
Key Moment: After the Bandits took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Blaze answered with five straight runs to take a 5-2 lead in the second inning. The Blaze took the lead by plating four runs on five hits in the second inning, including a home run by outfielder Korbe Otis.
Better Late Than Never: The contest was delayed for 2 hours and 45 minutes prior to first pitch due to inclement weather in the area.
Bandits Notes
- The Bandits initiated a coach’s challenge on a stolen base attempt by outfielder Morgan Zerkle … The challenge was unsuccessful and the call on the field was upheld (caught stealing).
- The Bandits also called for a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the fourth inning to challenge a stolen base by utility player Kayla Kowalik … The challenge was successful as the call on the field was overturned and Kowalik was ruled out for leaving early.
- The Bandits, who saw their four-game win streak snapped with Monday’s loss, enter the mid-season break with a 9-3 record, which is tied with the Talons for the top mark in the AUSL.
- The Bandits allowed a season-high 11 runs and 14 hits in Monday’s setback against the Blaze … It marked the third straight game they allowed 10 or more hits.
- Outfielder Morgan Zerkle belted her league-leading fifth home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning, sending the first pitch from pitcher Hope Trautwein-Valdespino over the center field wall … Infielder Skylar Walace followed Zerkle’s home run with a solo shot of her own just two pitches later to give the Bandits a 2-0 lead.
- Wallace extended her league-leading hitting streak to 11 games … In addition, she joined Volts outfielder Amanda Lorenz as the only players in the league to reach base safely in all 12 games this season.
- The Bandits, who lead the league with 21 home runs, have hit at least one homer in 11 consecutive games after their three-homer performance on Monday … In the four-game series against the Volts, the Bandits accumulated 10 home runs.
- Pitcher Devyn Netz dropped to 1-2 in the circle after allowing five runs on five hits over 1.1 innings.
Next Game: Monday, July 7 vs. Volts (Rosemont, Ill.) | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze initiated a coach’s challenge in the top of the sixth inning to challenge if infielder Erin Coffel moved into a pitch in order to draw a hit by pitch … The challenge was unsuccessful as the call was upheld and Coffel was placed on first base.
- An umpire review was initiated in the bottom of the sixth inning to see if a batted ball by infielder Aubrey Leach was fair or foul … The call on the field was upheld and Leach registered a double.
- The Blaze snapped their eight-game losing streak with Monday’s run-rule victory … It marks the team’s first win since a 3-1 verdict against the Volts on June 9.
- The Blaze have registered 10 or more hits in three consecutive games after being held to just one hit in the series opener on Friday night … The Blaze’s 14 hits against the Bandits on Monday marked their largest single-game output since a 17-hit performance against the Talons in the first game of a doubleheader on June 14.
- Six of the Blaze’s 14 hits went for extra bases … The team entered the contest with 20 extra-base hits through its first 11 games.
- The Blaze finished the game going 10-for-15 (.667) with runners on base, including a 9-for-12 performance with runners in scoring position.
- The Blaze scored 10 or more runs for the second time this season … The squad scored 12 runs against the Talons on June 14 in the first game of a doubleheader.
- The Blaze hit a pair of home runs in Monday’s victory after going the previous three games without a homer … They now have seven home runs in 12 games this season.
- Leach, outfielder Korbe Otis and infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton combined to go 8-for-10 at the plate with six RBI and four runs scored … Otis also hit the first home run of her professional career with a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning.
- Infielder Ana Gold also slugged her first professional home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to seal the run-rule result for the Blaze
- … She finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored, marking her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
- Outfielder Aliyah Andrews poked a two-run single up the middle in the bottom of the second inning to put the Blaze in front, 3-2 … It was Andrews’ first RBI of the season.
- Pitcher Alana Vawter (1-2) earned her first win of the season after throwing a season-high 5.0 innings … She allowed one run on four hits with four strikeouts.
Next Game: Monday, July 7 vs. Talons (Rosemont, Ill.) | 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT
