The Quick Story: Outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena registered a season-high four hits, including a pair of home runs, and drove in four runs as the Bandits snapped the Talons’ eight-game win streak with a 9-1 Athletes Unlimited Softball League victory in front of a sold-out crowd at Connie Claussen Field on Saturday night.
Key Moment: After the Talons took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, the Bandits responded by scoring nine unanswered runs, including a five-run outburst in the third inning, to take control of the game.
Bandits Notes
- The Bandits reclaimed a 4-3 lead in the season series against the Talons with Saturday’s victory … The teams have alternated wins in each of the first seven contests.
- The Bandits scored five runs on five hits in the top of the third inning, marking the second time this season they have posted an inning with five or more runs … They also had six runs in the top of the fifth inning during Friday night’s 8-7 loss.
- The Bandits have now hit multiple home runs in a game eight times this season after their three home runs in the third inning … They also matched the AUSL single-game high with four homers on Saturday night.
- The Bandits had four home runs against the Blaze on June 22, while the Talons had four homers on Friday night against the Bandits.
- The Bandits established a new season high with eight extra-base hits, including four doubles and four home runs … They previously posted six extra-base hits in back-to-back games against the Blaze on June 21-22.
- The Bandits accumulated 10 or more hits for the 11th time this season, including the third occurrence in their last four outings … They also matched their season high with the 15-hit output, equaling the 15 hits they registered against the Blaze on June 8.
- The Bandits were 6-for-18 with runners on base in addition to having the leadoff hitter reach base in 4-of-6 chances.
- The Bandits also earned their third run-rule victory of the season, including their second triumph against the Talons … The Bandits now own a 3-1 record in run-rule games this season.
- The Bandits allowed a run in the first inning for just the fifth time in 17 games this season … They also gave up the game’s opening run for the eighth time.
- Six different players authored a multi-hit game in the victory on Saturday night … In addition, the Bandits’ top three hitters in the lineup accounted for seven of the team’s 15 hits along with five runs scored.
- Outfielder Morgan Zerkle belted her league-leading sixth home run to lead off the top of the third inning … She has now hit safely in 11 of her last 12 games, including the last four in a row.
- Zerkle posted her league-leading 10th multi-hit game of the campaign after going 2-for-4 with a run scored … She also opened the game with a single up the middle.
- Infielder Erin Coffel added her fourth home run of the season in the third inning with a two-run shot to center field, extending her streak of reaching base safely to 16 consecutive games.
- Coffel also registered her second three-hit game of the season after adding a double in the fourth inning and a single in the sixth inning.
- Coffel also ran her streak to five games in a row … She has hit safely in 12 of her last 13 appearances.
- Outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena has hit safely in five of her last seven games after her four-hit effort on Saturday night … She also became the third player in the AUSL to hit multiple home runs in a game this season, joining Volts outfielder Amanda Lorenz and Bandits infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton.
- Nickles-Camarena is now tied with Zerkle for the league lead with six home runs this season.
- Nickles-Camarena authored the sixth four-hit game in the AUSL this season, including the third by a Bandits hitter.
- Infielder Delanie Wisz has recorded a hit in five of her last seven outings following her RBI double in the first inning … Wisz, who has two multi-hit games this season, has also driven in a run during five of her last six contests.
- Infielder Skylar Wallace extended her hitting streak to four games after an infield single in the top of the third inning … She added a double in the fourth inning to record her fifth multi-hit outing.
- Infielder Sydney McKinney posted her ninth multi-hit game of the season after going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
- Pitcher Odicci Alexander upped her record to 4-1 on the season after giving up one run on three hits over 4.0 innings with one strikeout.
- Pitcher Sarah Willis threw 2.0 scoreless innings to end the game, retiring six of the seven hitters she faced.
Talons Notes
- The Talons scored first for the 13th time in 17 games this season when infielder Tori Vidales hit an RBI double to right center field … They now own an 11-2 record when plating the game’s first run.
- The Talons were held to just three hits in the loss on Saturday, matching a season low … They were limited to just three hits in an 8-0 loss against the Bandits on June 10.
- Outfielder Caroline Jacobsen extended her hitting streak to four games in a row after going 1-for-2 with a single in the third inning.
- Vidales has hit safely in three straight games after her RBI double in the first inning.
- Rookie infielder Bri Ellis collected one of the Talons’ three hits, marking her first base hit since June 15 against the Blaze … The single snapped a 0-for-20 skid over an eight-game span.
- Pitcher Megan Faraimo (3-1) suffered her first loss of the season after conceding four runs on six hits over 2.0 innings with one strikeout.
- Pitcher Elena Escobar made her professional debut against the Bandits on Saturday night … The former Liberty standout allowed one run on three hits in 2.0 innings.
Next Game: Saturday, July 13 | 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT
Probably Starting Pitchers: Lexi Kilfoyl (3-1, 2.80) vs. Raelin Chaffin (4-1, 3.36)
