“They’ve been a thorn in our side a little bit,” Head Coach Howard Dobson said of the Bandits. They are the only team that the Talons have lost to this season, but cap the season series with a spot in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League Championship after defeating their budding rival in two of three games. The Bandits did not go down without a fight; their offense continued to ascend, but the Talons were able to take them down with timely responses.
“They’ve done a good job of taking it one pitch at a time, but also, it’s been someone different. [When] people are looking at our lineup and going through our games, you’ll see somebody else has stepped up every time; it’s been someone different through our lineup, which is really cool to see that we can beat you in multiple ways. We’re capable of the big hit at the right time,” Dobson said.
The weekend kicked off with a Talons extra-inning walk-off victory, which was the headliner of several clutch hits this weekend.
GAME ONE | TALONS 8 – BANDITS 7
The Talons opened the weekend with a thrilling extra-innings walk-off double off the bat of infielder Ali Aguilar. The Talons scored first in the second inning and by the fourth, gained a five-run lead. The Bandits quickly responded in the top of the fifth, as Morgan Zerkle and Erin Coffel combined for three RBIs. Bubba Nickles-Camarena then gave the Bandits the one-run lead after launching a three-run shot. Sierra Sacco had a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh, knotting it all up and sending it to extra innings. Danielle Gibson Whorton started the eighth inning with an RBI for the Bandits, but veteran Victoria Hayward responded in the eighth with an RBI, and Aguilar called game.
“I think that it’s been really cool to see us consistently play the game the way that we have been. When we have outs left, we’re going to win. Like, we have a chance of winning. So I think that’s been really cool and really special about this team,” said Hannah Flippen.
Flippen, Jadelyn Allchin and Caroline Jacobsen all recorded home runs in game one. Georgina Corrick earned the win with three strikeouts across five innings, putting her at 5-0 on the season. Corrick shared time in the circle with Raelin Chaffin.
GAME TWO | TALONS 1 – BANDITS 9
The Bandits’ blooming offense from Friday erupted on Saturday with a no-doubt win against the Talons, successfully snapping their eight-game win streak in just six innings. With only three hits compared to the Bandits’ 15, the Talons scored in the first inning and weren’t able to put any across for the remainder of the contest. Nickels-Camarena was lights-out at the plate and led the Bandits with four hits, two home runs, and four RBIs. Coffel also had a homer on the day and three hits with three RBIs.
Oddici Alexander was the arm that earned the win and silenced the Talons’ threatening lineup. Sarah Willis entered in relief and threw two innings. The Talons tried to find an answer to the Bandits’ offense using the arms of Megan Faraimo, Chaffin, Mariah Lopez and Elena Escobar, but came up short.
GAME THREE | TALONS 6 – BANDITS 3
Allchin and Jacobsen led the pack, each earning a pair of hits on the day as the Talons bounced back Sunday. Trailing by one run in the bottom of the third, the Talons responded with four runs and another for good measure in the bottom of the fourth. Despite the Bandits plating one run in the top of the seventh, the Talons’ third inning rally was enough to leave them on top. Aguilar earned a pair of RBIs in the win.
“I get the best seat in the house because they’re pulling for each other and they’re grinding at-bats out. The leadership on this team is unreal, and they just never quit,” Dobson said.
Montana Fouts made her return after being reinstated from the Injured List and threw three innings. Chaffin earned the win after pitching four innings and allowing just one hit.
The Talons will face the Blaze on Wednesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
Cayla Sweazie is a former collegiate softball player turned sports reporter with a passion for telling the stories of athletes. She is serving as a correspondent for the Talons of the AUSL. You can follow her on Instagram @caysweazie.
