The Quick Story: The Talons used a balanced offensive attack to secure its first Athletes Unlimited Softball League win, a 6-3 victory over the Bandits in front of a sell-out crowd at Parkway Bank Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon.
Key Moment: Infielders Ali Aguilar and Tori Vidales ignited the Talons’ offense with back-to-back home runs in the first inning off rookie pitcher Devyn Netz for a 2-0 lead. Aguilar hit a solo blast to center field before Vidales added her first home run of the season to left field. The Bandits trimmed the margin to 4-3 in the third inning before the Talons sealed the win with two insurance runs in the final frame.
Talons Notes
- All nine Talons starters recorded at least one hit in the victory on Sunday … A trio of Talons – outfielder Sierra Sacco, catcher Sharlize Palacios and infielder Hannah Flippen – each posted two-hit performances.
- The Talons were 9-for-16 in two-out situations in addition to going 8-for-20 in advancement opportunities … However, they have left 17 runners on base in the first two games of the series.
- All six of the Talons’ runs in Sunday’s victory came with two outs.
- Pitcher Raelin Chaffin earned the first win of her professional career after throwing 3.0 scoreless innings of relief … The former Mississippi State product conceded just one hit while notching two strikeouts.
- Pitcher Lauren Derkowski did not factor into the decision in her professional debut on Sunday … The former Michigan standout allowed three runs on five hits over 3.0 innings.
- Pitcher Montana Fouts earned the first save of her professional career after retiring all three hitters she faced in the seventh inning … The former Alabama standout notched 15 saves during her college career with the Crimson Tide.
Bandits Notes
- The Bandits initiated a coaches’ challenge in the top of the seventh inning on a single by outfielder Sierra Sacco (runner left early) … The challenge was unsuccessful as the call was upheld.
- The Bandits were just 1-for-5 with runners on base, including a 1-for-4 showing with runners in scoring position.
- Outfielder Morgan Zerkle hit the first inside-the-park home run in Athletes Unlimited Softball League history when she led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot to left field … It is the first inside-the-park home run hit in any AU softball game since September 7, 2020, when Janie Reed accomplished the feat against Team Show.
- Six different Bandits registered a base hit in the loss on Sunday afternoon … Outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena hit her first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third inning to cut the deficit to 4-3.
- Pitcher Devyn Netz, who made her professional debut on Saturday, earned her first career start in the circle on Sunday … The former Arizona star was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in 2.0 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.
- Pitcher Odicci Alexander, who is slated to be the starting pitcher in Tuesday night’s series finale, threw 4.0 innings in relief and allowed two runs on six hits with two strikeouts.
Next Game: Tuesday, June 10 | 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
