The Quick Story: The Blaze (5-13) utilized home runs from infielders Ana Gold and Devyn Netz and outfielder McKenzie Clark to power their way to a 10-2 victory against the Volts (6-12) to earn their first series victory of the year in Athletes Unlimited Softball League action at Husky Softball Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Key Moment: The Blaze scored the first run for the fourth straight game after a solo home run from infielder Ana Gold gave them a 1-0 lead … The Volts manufactured a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the contest, but the Blaze scored the next nine runs to take a 10-1 lead and hold on for the victory.
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze scored the first run of the game for the seventh time this season, including the fourth straight contest … They are now 3-4 when plating the game’s first run.
- The Blaze finished with 10 hits to mark the sixth time this season they have registered 10 or more base knocks in a contest.
- The Blaze lead-off hitters were 5-for-7 in the victory, while they were 10-for-18 in advancement opportunities.
- The Blaze’s three home runs marked a new season high … They had previously belted two homers in a contest three times.
- With victories on Saturday and Sunday, the Blaze won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
- Infielder Aubrey Leach drew her league leading 14th and 15th walks of the season in the first inning … The free pass ran her streak of reaching base safely to 10 games
- Infielder Ana Gold launched her second home run of the season to lead off the top of the second inning … It is her first home run since a two-run shot against the Bandits on June 23 … The Duke product finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a season high four RBI and also scored twice.
- Outfielder McKenzie Clark wrapped up her weekend against her former team with a three-run home run in the fourth inning … She finished the three-game set with a pair of homers, four RBI and two runs scored … She has reached base safely in five straight games.
- Utility player Aliyah Binford tallied another pair of hits to finish the weekend 3-for-5 at the plate after joining the team after the mid-season break.
- Outfielder Korbe Otis registered her seventh multi-hit performance after a 2-for-3 effort at the plate in Sunday afternoon’s victory.
- Pitcher Keilani Ricketts entered in relief in the third inning and shut down the Volts bats … She tossed 3.0 innings and allowed just one run on one hit with four strikeouts to earn her first victory of the season.
- Pitcher Alana Vawter did not factor into the decision but held the Volts to one hit in 2.0 innings of work in the start.
- Utility player Aby Vieira made her AUSL debut as a defensive substitution at catcher in the seventh inning.
Next Game: Wednesday, July 16 vs. Talons (Salt Lake City, Utah) | 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT
Volts Notes
- The Volts initiated a coach’s challenge in the top of the sixth inning to review if outfielder Aliyah Andrews was out of the running lane on a close play at first … The challenge was successful as the call was overturned and Andrews was ruled out.
- The Volts matched a season low with three hits in Sunday’s defeat … They were previously held to three hits by the Talons on June 21 and July 8.
- The Volts finished 1-for-11 with runners on base, including an 0-for-4 mark with runners in scoring position.
- The 10 runs surrendered by the Volts marks the most runs they have allowed this season … The mark surpassed the eight runs scored by the Talons in back-to-back games on June 22 and 23.
- Catcher Dejah Mulipola launched her first home run of the season with a homer in the seventh inning … It is just the second home run by a Volts’ hitter in their past five outings.
- Utility player Mia Scott went 1-for-3 in the series finale with a single in the first inning … She has reached base safely in eight straight games.
- Infielder Sierra Romero laced her fourth double of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning … She has doubled in back-to-back games.
- Pitcher Mariah Mazón started in the circle but did not factor into the decision … She allowed one run on two hits in 2.0 innings.
- Utility player Sam Show was saddled with the loss despite allowing just one hit, which was a home run, and dropped to 0-2 on the year.
Next Game: Thursday, July 17 vs. Bandits (Round Rock, Texas) | 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT
