With a precise performance in the circle backed by stout defense, Team Klingler only needed to push one run across for victory over Team Ricketts on Friday night at Parkway Bank Sports Complex. Klingler’s squad secured not only a 1-0 win but also swept the win points in the opening game of Series 2 of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League All-Star Cup.
Pitcher Sam Landry earned the win, going 4.2 innings and allowing only two hits, a walk, and striking out three batters. The save went to Lexi Kilfoyl, who closed out the game for the remaining 2.1 frames.
“Sam [Landry] and Lexi [Kilfoyl] threw a great game tonight. They threw a lot of ground balls, and our defense was able to make it work,” captain Baylee Klingler said. “I loved that they were able to have fun and do their job, and we were all able to play good defense behind them.”
They were backed by a strong defensive unit that did not commit an error and handled many ground balls. Hannah Flippen and Baylee Klingler turned a momentum-crushing double play in the seventh, and the infield as a whole logged 11 assists. Ailana Agbayani also had an incredible backhanded stab at second base.
The game-winning run came in the third. With two outs, Bubba Nickles-Camarena roped a hit, and the ricochet off the left field wall gave her time to turn it into a triple. A pass ball allowed her to score.
Landry picked up MVP 1 honors, making her the highest-point earner in the game with 246 total points (130 win points, 56 stat points, 60 MVP points). Nickles-Camarena and Kilfoyl slotted in at second and third, with Flippen picking up 20 points as the defensive MVP of the game.
Next Game
Team Brown will make their Series 2 debut on Saturday night, facing Team Klingler at 12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
Savanna Collins is the Senior Reporter for the AUSL. You can follow her on Instagram @savvyco.
