The Quick Story: Infielder Sydney McKinney went 4-for-4 with three runs scored to lead the Bandits (15-9) to a 5-1 victory against the Blaze (7-17) in the final game of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League regular season at Parkway Bank Sports Complex on Wednesday night.
Key Moment: The Bandits used three consecutive walks to take an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. The advantage grew to 3-0 in the fifth inning after doubles from infielders Erin Coffel and Delanie Wisz before infielder Sydney McKinney capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the sixth inning for a 5-0 cushion.
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze asked for a coach’s challenge in the top of the second inning to review if outfielder Aliyah Andrews beat out a play at first base after a bunt … The challenge was successful and the call on the field was overturned, Andrews reached on a bunt single.
- The Blaze matched a season low with one run scored … They were previously held to one run in four games before tonight’s defeat.
- The Blaze were 6-for-17 in advancement opportunities, including being held to 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position after entering as the league’s top team in hitting with runners on second or third.
- The Blaze left nine runners on base in the 5-1 loss on Wednesday night … They stranded eight or more runners in nine games this season.
- Andrews extended her hit streak to six straight games with a single in the second inning … She closed the season by tallying eight hits in her final six contests.
- Rookie outfielder Korbe Otis concluded her season with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate … She registered multi-hit performances in five of the last seven outings, including the last four games in a row.
- Infielder Aubrey Leach went 2-for-4 in her final game of the season … She closed out the 2025 campaign with a .667 (12-for-18) average in five games at Parkway Bank Sports Complex, which will also host a portion of the All-Star Cup in August.
- Pitcher Keilani Ricketts was saddled with the loss despite allowing only one run on four hits … She registered a season-high six strikeouts, but walked three batters in the defeat.
Blaze’s Next Game: Season Complete
Bandits Notes
- The Bandits initiated a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the second inning to see if outfielder Bella Dayton beat out a throw to first base on a bunt … The challenge was successful after the call on the field was reversed, giving Dayton an infield single.
- The Bandits scored at least three runs in all 24 games this season after closing the regular season with five runs against the Blaze on Wednesday … They are the only team in the league to register at least three runs in each game.
- The Bandits finish the season with a 10-1 mark when scoring first after plating a run in the first inning.
- The Bandits also complete the regular season with a league-high 152 runs in 24 games after scoring five or more runs in five of their final six games.
- The Bandits hit a home run in 19-of-24 games during the regular season, which were the most instances in the circuit … They closed the regular season with a homer in nine of their last 10 outings, including three straight contests.
- The Bandits went 8-for-19 in advancement opportunities, but were just 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
- Infielder Sydney McKinney became the fourth Bandits player to author a four-hit game this season after going 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored … She finished the season with 11 multi-hit efforts, the second-most occurrences on the team behind outfielder Morgan Zerkle (14).
- McKinney also extended her hitting streak to five games on Wednesday night … She has gone 10-for-18 in the five-game run.
- Infielder Erin Coffel, who was named the league’s Hitter of the Year earlier on Wednesday, went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored … She ended the regular season as the league leader with 28 RBI … The former Kentucky standout drove in at least one run in 14-of-22 outings this season.
- Infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton raised her streak of reaching base safely to six games with a 1-for-3 night against her former team.
- Infielder Delanie Wisz reached base safely in each of her last eight games, including a five-game hitting streak, after doubling in the fifth frame … Her double marked just her third two-bagger of the season and the first since July 12 against the Talons.
- Dayton moved her hitting streak to six games with a 1-for-2 effort and a run scored.
- Pitcher Emiley Kennedy did not factor in the decision, but tossed 3.0 innings of scoreless work with a pair of strikeouts … Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl moved her record to 6-1 on the season after pitching 2.0 innings of scoreless relief while holding the Blaze to a pair of hits.
- Pitcher Taylor McQuillin, who started in the circle in Tuesday’s series opener, locked down her fourth save of the season after scattering two hits over the sixth and seventh innings.
Bandits’ Next Game: Saturday, July 26 vs. Talons (AUSL Championship Game #1) | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT
