The Quick Story: Pitcher Megan Faraimo scattered two hits over 5.0 innings to earn her first complete game of the season as the Talons (10-3) ran their win streak to five straight games with a 9-1 victory over the Blaze (2-11) to complete Monday night’s Athletes Unlimited Softball League doubleheader in front of a sold-out crowd at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.
Key Moment: After falling behind by a 1-0 margin in the top of the third inning, the Talons erupted for four runs in the bottom of the frame before adding five runs in the fourth inning to secure the run-rule victory. Faraimo, meanwhile, was dominant in the circle with a season-high seven strikeouts, including the first four batters of the game.
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze, who lost for the ninth time in the last 10 games, scored first for just the second time in 13 games this season after taking the early 1-0 lead in the third inning.
- Infielder Anissa Urtez has hit safely in four of her last five games after driving in a run with a double in the third inning.
- Infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton had her three-game hitting streak snapped in Monday’s loss after going 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
- Pitcher Alana Vawter dropped to 1-3 on the season after giving up nine runs, including six earned runs, on nine hits over 3.1 innings … She also notched a season-high five strikeouts.
Next Game: Tuesday, July 8 vs. Bandits (Rosemont, Ill.) | 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT
Talons Notes
- The Talons initiated a coach’s challenge in the top of the third inning on a stolen base by outfielder Korbe Otis … The challenge was successful after it was determined Otis left first base early and was called out.
- The Talons are the first AUSL team to reach 10 victories this season and now hold a one-game lead over the Bandits (9-4) in the standings … The Talons are also the first team in AUSL history to win five consecutive games.
- The Talons have outscored their opponents by a 32-12 margin during the five-game win streak and have tallied eight or more runs in each of their last three contests.
- The Talons have won all four meetings against the Blaze this season by a combined 40-27 margin.
- The Talons are now 1-1 in run-rule games this season … They dropped an 8-0 verdict against the Bandits on June 10 in Rosemont.
- Seven of the Talons’ nine hits came with runners on base, including a perfect 3-for-3 night with a runner on third base and less than two outs.
- The Talons were 9-for-16 in advancement opportunities, while holding the Blaze to just 1-for-6 in moving runners.
- The Talons’ top five hitters in the lineup accounted for seven of the team’s nine hits in addition to scoring six runs.
- The Talons finished with nine or more hits for the seventh time this season, including the fourth occurrence in their last six outings.
- Infielder Hannah Flippen has now reached base safely in 12 straight games and extended her hitting streak to four games after a 2-for-3 effort at the plate … She finished with at least three RBI for the third time this year.
- Infielder Ali Aguilar belted her fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning … She also added a single in the third inning for her third multi-hit game of the campaign.
- Outfielder Jadelyn Allchin has hit safely in seven of her last eight outings after a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored.
- Pitcher Megan Faraimo became the fifth different pitcher in the AUSL to record a complete game this season … She needed just 59 pitches to secure the victory.
- Outfielder Caroline Jacobsen had her eight-game hitting streak snapped after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts … She also had her nine-game streak of reaching base safely come to an end.
Next Game: Tuesday, July 8 vs. Volts (Rosemont, Ill.) | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
