The Quick Story: The Talons used a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to earn a wild 14-12 victory over the Blaze in the first game of an Athletes Unlimited Softball League doubleheader at Frost Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Key Moment: After the Blaze overcame an 11-run deficit by scoring 12 consecutive runs, the Talons reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh inning when infielder Sydney Romero blasted a two-run home run to left field off pitcher Hope Trautwein-Valdespino. Pitcher Montana Fouts entered in the bottom of the seventh inning and retired all three batters she faced to secure her second save of the
season.
Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head: A 56-minute weather delay halted play in the bottom of the fourth inning … Play resumed at 2:47 p.m. ET.
Talons Notes
- The Talons initiated a coach’s challenge in the bottom of the sixth inning on an infield single by infielder Ana Gold … The challenge was unsuccessful after the call was upheld.
- The Talons were 10-for-26 with runners on base and 6-for-18 with runners in scoring position … In addition, they were 21-for-33 in advancement opportunities.
- Eight of the Talons’ nine starters in the batting order registered at least one hit in the victory … Outfielder Caroline Jacobsen was the lone player without a hit after going 0-for-1 with three walks.
- Infielder Hannah Flippen launched the first home run of her AUSL career in the top of the first inning with a three-run shot … She went 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and three runs batted in.
- The Talons erupted for six runs in the top of the fourth inning, marking the largest scoring output in a single inning in the league this season.
- The Talons, who set a league single-game high with their 14-run outburst in Saturday’s opener, had scored just seven runs in their first three games.
- Pitcher Megan Faraimo made her AUSL season debut in Saturday’s opener … The former UCLA standout did not factor into the decision after allowing five runs on eight runs over 3.1 innings with four strikeouts.
- Pitcher Raelin Chaffin upped her record to 2-0 after allowing two hits with no runs in the sixth inning.
Blaze Notes
- The Blaze registered 17 hits in the first game on Saturday, marking the most hits by a team in the AUSL this season … Twelve of the 17 hits came with runners on base.
- The Blaze were also 9-for-17 with runners in scoring position in addition to a 17-for-27 success rate in advancement opportunities.
- The Blaze scored just seven runs in their first three games before exploding for their 12 runs in Saturday’s loss.
- Eight of the Blaze’s nine starters in the offensive lineup recorded at least one hit … Catcher Taylor Edwards was the lone player without a hit after going 0-for-1 with a walk.
- Outfielder Baylee Klingler became the first player in the AUSL to record a four-hit game after going 4-for-5 with a home run and three singles … She also drove in a league-high seven runs in the setback while extending her hitting streak to four games.
- Rookie infielder Ana Gold ran her hitting streak to three straight games after posting her first career three-hit game … The former Duke product was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and is now 6-for-10 in her last three games.
- Outfielder Aliyah Andrews also registered her first three hits of the season following a 3-for-4 effort with two runs scored.
Next Game: Saturday, June 14 | 30 minutes after Game One
