The Quick Story: Infielders Tiare Jennings and Jessi Warren each hit a home run as the Volts (6-16) snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-5 Athletes Unlimited Softball League victory over the Bandits (14-8) in the series finale at Dell Diamond on Sunday evening.
Key Moment: After falling behind by a 2-1 margin, the Volts erupted for five runs in the second inning to take a 6-2 lead they did not relinquish. The Volts loaded the bases with one out in the frame before a pair of errors by the Bandits allowed all three runners to score, in addition to utility player Danieca Coffey, for a 5-2 edge. Jennings followed with her fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to right center field to increase the cushion to four runs.
Bandits Notes
- The Bandits’ loss guaranteed a first-place finish for the Talons in the AUSL regular season standings … The Bandits and the Talons will face each other in the AUSL Championship on July 26-28 at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
- The Talons (17-5) will be the designated home team for the first and third games of the best-of-three series.
- The loss thwarted the Bandits’ opportunity to secure their first four-game series sweep of the season … It is the second time they have won the first three games of a series before losing the finale (June 20-23 vs. Blaze).
- The Bandits have now scored three or more runs in all 22 games this season … They are the only team in the AUSL that has not been held to two runs or less in a game this season.
- The Bandits registered a home run for the 18th time in 22 games this season when infielder Skylar Wallace slugged a two-run shot to right center field in the first inning.
- Wallace added a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to trim the deficit to 7-5 … It is the fifth time this season a player has belted two home runs in a single game, including the second time by a Bandits hitter.
- Wallace has hit safely in nine consecutive games following her 2-for-3 performance on Sunday night … She also has a multi-hit game in four of her last six contests.
- The Bandits also scored in the first inning for the 10th time in their 22 games this season, dropping to 6-4 in those contests.
- Infielder Sydney McKinney has hit safely in eight of her last nine outings, including the last four in a row, after reaching on a bunt single to lead off the bottom of the second inning.
- Outfielder Morgan Zerkle has also recorded a hit in eight of her last nine appearances after opening the game with a single in the bottom of the first inning … She now has a league-high 36 hits in 22 games.
- Infielder Erin Coffel ended a 0-for-12 drought at the plate with an infield single in the bottom of the seventh inning … It was her first hit since July 13 against the Talons.
- Infielder Delanie Wisz extended her hitting streak to three games after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
- Outfielder Bella Dayton hit safely in all four games against the Volts this weekend after going 1-for-3 with a double in the fifth inning.
- Pitcher Emiley Kennedy (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits over 2.0 innings with three strikeouts.
Bandits’ Next Game: Tuesday, July 22 vs. Blaze (Rosemont, Ill.) | 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT
Volts Notes
- The Volts earned their first win over the Bandits since a 5-3 victory on July 7 at Parkway Bank Sports Complex … The Volts end the season series with a 2-6 record against the Bandits.
- The Volts scored seven or more runs for just the fifth time this season, including the second time in the series against the Bandits … They also scored seven runs in Thursday’s series opener, which the Bandits won by an 8-7 count.
- The Volts outhit the Bandits by a 9-7 margin, marking the 10th time in 22 games they have held the advantage … They are 7-3 in those occurrences.
- The Volts hit multiple home runs for the fifth time this season, improving to 2-3 in those games … They also earned their first win in six games this season when allowing two or more home runs.
- The Volts scored the game’s first run for just the fifth time in 22 games this season after infielder Tiare Jennings drove in a run with a single to right field in the first inning … They also scored in the opening frame for the ninth time this season.
- The Volts drew a season-high six walks in Sunday’s victory … They had earned 10 total walks in their previous five games.
- Outfielder Amanda Lorenz authored her sixth multi-hit game of the season after posting a single in each of the first two innings.
- Utility player Danieca Coffey has registered a hit in five of her last seven games after sending a single down the left field line in the first inning.
- Jennings posted her fourth multi-hit game of the season after posting a pair of hits in her first two at-bats … She singled to right field in the first inning before blasting her fifth home run of the season in the second inning, a solo shot to right center field.
- Infielder Jessi Warren collected her fourth multi-hit game of the season in the win on Sunday night after going 2-for-4 … She hit her second home run of the season in the fifth inning with a solo shot down the left field line before adding an infield single in the seventh inning.
- Utility player Mia Scott has hit safely in five of her last seven games after going 2-for-3 with a run scored … She singled in the third inning before adding another single in the seventh inning.
- Outfielder Ciara Briggs saw her three-game hitting streak come to an end after going 0-for-2 with two walks.
- Pitcher Payton Gottshall evened her record to 2-2 after throwing 3.0 shutout innings in relief on Sunday … She allowed just one hit and posted one strikeout after entering in the third inning.
Volts’ Next Game: Tuesday, July 22 vs. Talons (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
