The Talons will take on the Blaze this weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in a three-game series that begins on Friday. The Talons are coming off a loss in run-rule fashion against the Bandits and will face a Blaze team that also lost their opening weekend series.
The key to this upcoming series will be capitalizing on opportunities with runners in scoring position. During opening weekend, the Talons and Blaze each left a total of 20 runners on base. The Talons have all the ingredients for a successful offense, but are still finding their recipe for success early in the season. As the season continues to unfold and teams continue to mesh, a surge in offense can be anticipated, and this weekend’s series offers another opportunity for just that.
The team is anticipating the arrival of utility Maya Brady and pitcher Megan Faraimo as they return from the Japan Diamond League this week. Faraimo is expected to see time in the circle this weekend.
The Talons’ 6-3 win on Sunday against the Bandits showcased the depth of their offense. All nine starters earned a hit in their first win in AUSL history. With a lineup comprised of AU veterans in Tori Vidales and Ali Aguilar, who both collected their first home runs of the season this past weekend, and former college standouts in Sierra Sacco and Bri Ellis, it is only a matter of time until the Talons’ offense soars to its highest potential.
“It’s kind of surreal, you know. At this point, the timing of the AUSL coming about and the opportunities these ladies are having is tremendous, and then to come out and get a W in your second game is really nice. We’d like to have got one yesterday, but you know, we’ll take them right now. It was nice to get out, jump out early on them, and getting that first win is now hopefully one of many as we move forward. It was really nice. We got some pitchers in there, two or three, they got some work in. So as we move forward, hopefully, we can just build on this momentum,” said head coach Howard Dobson after Sunday’s win.
The Talons are looking to regroup as they head to Tennessee, making adjustments while also building off of their first win of the season.
While the offense gave the sell-out crowds a preview of their talent opening weekend, stringing together hits will be key to generating more runs.
The Blaze are heading into the weekend with momentum coming off of their first win of the season, beating the Volts 3-1 in the series finale.
The arms of Montana Fouts, who leads the Talons with six strikeouts; Lauren Derkowski, the Big Ten Most Outstanding Player; Raelin Chaffin, who earned the Talons’ first win; and Mariah Lopez, the only lefty on the staff, will look to keep the Blaze bats quiet.
The Talons will face the arms of Keilani Ricketts, who leads Blaze with five strikeouts; Emma Lemley, who recorded the Blaze’s first win; and Aleshia Ocasio, Brooke McCubbin and Hope Trautwein-Valdespino as they pursue their first series of the season.
Defensively, with only two errors during opening weekend, the Talons have been solid on the other side of the ball, which has been a relief to the pitching staff.
“I think the defense is incredible … Just all the plays they make, like any ball that’s hit. Maybe I’m too confident. But I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s an out’. I know every play is probably going to be an out,” Chaffin said of the Talons’ defense.
In addition to pitching, the Talons’ defense will be important in limiting run opportunities for the Blaze offense with threats in Baylee Klinger, Taylor Edwards and Ana Gold, who combined for nine hits throughout opening weekend.
These two teams, each looking to take their first series of the season, will face off with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 13, on MLB.com.
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.
