The Quick Story: Outfielder Morgan Zerkle and infielder Sydney McKinney each contributed three hits as the Bandits (13-7) earned their third win in the last four games with a 9-2 victory over the Volts (6-14) in Athletes Unlimited Softball League action at Dell Diamond on Friday evening.
Key Moment: The Bandits erupted for five runs on six hits in the top of the second inning to break a scoreless tie and take a 5-0 lead they did not relinquish. Infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton and outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena hit back-to-back home runs to open the scoring before Zerkle added an RBI single for a 3-0 cushion. Infielder Skylar Wallace completed the scoring when she drove in two runs with a single up the middle.
Bandits Notes
- The Bandits now own a 5-1 advantage in the season series over the Volts … They have scored six or more runs in all five of their wins.
- All nine Bandits hitters reached base safely in Friday night’s game against the Volts, including seven batters with at least one hit … Infielder Erin Coffel was hit by a pitch to reach base, while catcher Jordan Roberts drew a walk in the fifth inning.
- The Bandits have scored three or more runs in all 20 games this season … They have also plated six or more runs in 13-of-20 fixtures, authoring an 11-2 record in those contests.
- The Bandits scored five runs in the second inning, setting a new team season high for runs scored in the second inning … They also tallied six hits in the frame, equaling the most hits in a single inning after they had six hits in the fifth inning against the Talons on July 11.
- The Bandits scored first for the 10th time in 20 games this season after infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton blasted a solo shot down the right field line to open the second inning … It marked Gibson Whorton’s third home run of the season, including her first homer since joining the Bandits last week.
- The Bandits have now homered in 17-of-20 games this season, including the last six games in a row … They have also tallied multiple home runs in a game 10 times, including the third occurrence in the last four outings.
- The Bandits are now 8-2 when hitting multiple home runs in a game this season.
- The Bandits have tallied 10 or more hits in 13-of-20 games, including five of the last seven outings, after finishing with 13 hits against the Volts on Friday night … The 13 hits were two shy of matching the Bandits’ season high, which came against the Blaze on July 8 and matched against the Talons last Saturday (July 12).
- The Bandits also improved to a perfect 7-0 when holding opponents to two runs or less after limiting the Volts to just two runs in Friday’s victory.
- The Bandits have limited the Volts to two runs or less in 3-of-6 games this season.
- Gibson Whorton and outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena recorded back-to-back home runs to open the second inning … It is the sixth time back-to-back home runs have been hit in the AUSL this season, including the third instance by the Bandits.
- Gibson Whorton, who finished with a 2-for-4 effort in Friday’s victory, also contributed a single in the top of the sixth inning to earn her second multi-hit game since joining the Bandits on July 11.
- Infielder Sydney McKinney has fashioned a multi-hit effort in eight of her last 13 outings after tallying a single in the second inning with another single in the fourth inning.
- McKinney added a double off the left field wall in the top of the fifth inning to post her fourth three-hit game of the season.
- Coffel has reached base safely in all 19 of her appearances this season after being hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth inning … It also marked her league-leading 13th time being hit by a pitch.
- Outfielder Morgan Zerkle extended her hitting streak to seven games in a row with a single in the second inning … She also added a two-run double to left field in the fifth inning to give her 13 multi-hit games this season, which leads the AUSL.
- Zerkle also homered for the third time in her last four games with a two-run shot to right field in the top of the seventh inning, giving her three or more hits for the fourth time this season.
- Pitcher Taylor McQuillin upped her record to 3-0 on the season after allowing just one hit over 2.2 innings of relief with one strikeout.
Volts Notes
- The Volts initiated a challenge in the top of the second inning for potential interference on a fielder’s choice by catcher Jordan Roberts … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld (no interference).
- The Volts also requested a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the seventh inning when outfielder Ciara Briggs was called out on a stolen base attempt at second base … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld.
- The Volts have been held to two runs or less in five of their last seven games.
- Briggs has recorded a hit in five of her last six games after recording a single in the bottom of the first inning … She added a single in the bottom of the third inning for her fifth multi-hit game since joining the Volts on June 22 (10 games).
- Pitcher Mariah Mazon saw her record drop to 0-3 on the season after allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits in 1.0 inning on Friday night.
Next Game: Saturday, July 19 | 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT
Probable Starting Pitchers: Taylor McQuillin (3-0, 4.26) vs. Sam Landry (1-4, 4.43)
