The Quick Story: Infielder Kayla Kowalik posted three hits and scored three runs as Team Kowalik (1-0) opened the second series of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League All-Star Cup with a 5-0 victory over Team Falby (0-1) at Parkway Bank Sports Complex on Tuesday evening.
Key Moment: Kowalik gave her team an early 1-0 lead when she blasted a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the first inning. Team Kowalik upped its lead to 2-0 in the third inning before adding two more runs in the fourth inning on back-to-back doubles by infielders Aliyah Binford and Sierra Romero. The final run was scored in the seventh inning after Kowalik led off the frame with a triple to left field before coming home on a single by infielder Baylee Klingler.
Leaderboard Update: Kowalik, who tallied a game-high 270 leaderboard points with her MVP 1 performance, surged to the top of the league standings with 650 points. Pitcher Keilani Ricketts rose to second place on the chart after finishing with 218 points, including an MVP 2 citation.
Team Kowalik Notes
- Team Kowalik became the second squad to record a shutout in the AUSL All-Star Cup this season after Team Lorenz edged Team Corrick by a 1-0 margin on August 2.
- The five runs scored by Team Kowalik are the most in an AUSL All-Star Cup game this season, besting the four-run effort by Team Kilfoyl in a 4-1 victory over Team Corrick on August 3.
- Team Kowalik became the second squad to post 10 or more hits in an AUSL All-Star Cup game this season after Team Ocasio tallied 14 hits against Team Kilfoyl on August 2.
- Team Kowalik was 9-for-21 in advancement opportunities, while seeing its leadoff hitter reach base in 3-of-7 innings.
- Captain Kayla Kowalik, who registered the fifth three-hit performance in this year’s AUSL All-Star Cup through five games, logged 270 leaderboard points in Tuesday’s victory to mark the second-highest total in the league this season … Pitcher Rachel Garcia compiled 274 leaderboard points on August 2 against Team Corrick.
- Pitcher Keilani Ricketts (1-0) held Team Falby to three hits with a pair of strikeouts in 4.0 innings to earn MVP 2 laurels and 218 leaderboard points.
- Ricketts and Kowalik become the fifth and sixth players to register 200 or more leaderboard points in an AUSL All-Star Cup game this summer.
- Pitcher Montana Fouts rounded out Team Kowalik’s MVP sweep with MVP 3 honors after locking down her first save with five strikeouts over the final 3.0 innings.
- Middle infielder Sierra Romero was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, which marked the sixth three-hit game in the league this season … She stroked an RBI double in the sixth inning to go with a pair of singles.
Team Kowalik’s Next Game: Thursday, August 21 vs. Team Willis | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
Team Falby Notes
- Team Falby initiated a captain’s challenge in the first inning with two outs when infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton was called out on a ground ball to shortstop … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld.
- Team Falby also requested a captain’s challenge in the top of the third inning when catcher Kayla Kowalik scored on a groundout … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld.
- Team Falby finished 1-for-7 in advancement opportunities, including an 0-for-6 mark with runners on base.
- Captain Kendra Falby, who went 1-for-3 at the plate, earned the game’s Defensive MVP award.
- Middle infielder Anissa Urtez finished 1-for-2 in the loss and was the lone Team Falby runner to move into scoring position after reaching second base in the fifth inning.
- Outfielder Morgan Zerkle and catcher Mary Iakopo each registered a single in the defeat.
- Pitcher Georgina Corrick (0-1) suffered the loss after surrendering two runs on five hits over 4.0 innings … She notched six strikeouts in the setback, which are the most by any pitcher in the AUSL All-Star Cup this season.
- Corrick, Sam Landry and Payton Gottshall combined to register nine strikeouts, which are the most by any team in this year’s AUSL All-Star Cup.
Team Falby’s Next Game: Wednesday, August 20 vs. Team Willis | 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT
