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The 2023 Athletes Unlimited season rolls on and today we look at Games 7 and 8 which were played on Thursday and Friday….
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Athletes Unlimited Softball Post-Game Notes/Game Recap – Game 7
Game #7: Team Romero 2, Team Zerkle 1 | August 4, 2023 | Parkway Bank Sports Complex
- Team Zerkle Starters: Morgan Zerkle (CF), Amanda Lorenz (LF), Danielle Gibson (1B), Delanie Wisz (3B), Gwen Svekis (C), Caroline Jacobsen (RF), Aly Harrell (DP), Josie Muffley (2B), Sydney McKinney (SS), Alyssa Denham (P)
- Team Romero Starters: Kelsey Stewart-Hunter (1B), Bubba Nickles (LF), Anissa Urtez (SS), Sierra Romero (2B), Mia Davidson (DP), Sydney Romero (3B), Megan Wiggins (CF), Shannon Rhodes (RF), Sashel Palacios (C), Odicci Alexander (P)
- Winning Pitcher: Taylor McQuillin (2-0)
- Losing Pitcher: Georgina Corrick (0-2)
- Save: n/a
- Time of Game: 2:10
Game MVPs:
- #1 – Bubba Nickles (Team Romero), +60 points
- #2 – Taylor McQuillin (Team Romero), +40 points
- #3 – Kelsey Stewart-Hunter (Team Romero), +20 points
Game Recap:
ROSEMONT, Illinois – Team Romero put runners on base in each of the first six innings during Friday night’s Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season matchup with Team Zerkle but had trouble getting them to score.
But, then came the seventh inning and the runs arrived at the perfect time as Team Romero scored twice in its final trip to the plate to secure a 2-1 victory over Team Zerkle in the Week Two opener for both teams at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.
Outfielder Bubba Nickles drove in the game-winning runs with her double to center field to finish off a three-hit performance. The former UCLA standout capped off the win by earning MVP 1 honors and led all players with 218 leaderboard points.
WALK IT OFF @madilyn_nickles 💥#AUSB | 📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/v21ndr3RaH
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) August 5, 2023
Pitcher Taylor McQuillin followed with an outstanding performance in relief to secure MVP 2 distinction. McQuillin did not allow a hit over 5.0 innings and struck out six batters to end the evening with 210 leaderboard points.
Corner infielder Kelsey Stewart-Hunter completed the MVP trio for Team Romero after going 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot with a pair of singles, garnering 150 leaderboard points.
Outfielder Amanda Lorenz accounted for the lone hit for Team Zerkle in the loss, while corner infielder Delanie Wisz drove in the team’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.
Pitcher Georgina Corrick dropped to 0-2 in the circle after giving up two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings with three strikeouts.
How It Happened:
Team Romero overcame a 1-0 deficit by plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. After outfielder Shannon Rhodes walked to open the frame, she moved to second base on a single by corner infielder Kelsey Stewart-Hunter. Nickles followed with a double to center field that scored both runners to secure the comeback victory.
Leaderboard Impact:
The win allowed Sierra Romero to move into the top spot on the leaderboard with 526 points, while pitcher Odicci Alexander moved into second place with 458 points.
Game Notes:
- Team Zerkle and Team Romero combined to score three runs in Friday’s opener, moving the league’s season total to 41 runs through seven games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored as part of its ‘Round the Bases’ initiative.
- Team Zerkle and Team Romero were a combined 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, but were 12-for-35 in advancement opportunities.
- The leadoff hitter reached base in 9-of-14 chances.
- Nicklesauthored the eighth multi-hit game of her Athletes Unlimited Championship Season career, including her second three-hit outing, with her 3-for-3 performance …She had six multi-hit games during the 2022 campaign.
- Stewart-Hunterposted her second multi-hit game of the season after going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles … It also marked the seventh multi-hit outing of her Athletes Unlimited Championship Season career.
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Athletes Unlimited Softball Post-Game Notes/Game Recap – Game 8
Game #8: Team Faraimo 4, Team Garcia 1 | August 4, 2023 | Parkway Bank Sports Complex
- Team Garcia Starters: Victoria Hayward (CF), Kelsey Harshman (2B), Dejah Mulipola (DP), Taylor Edwards (C), Rachel Garcia (DP), Jessi Warren (3B), Jazmyn Jackson (LF), Caleigh Clifton (1B), Sis Bates (SS), Madi Huskey (RF)
- Team Faraimo Starters: Haylie McCleney (CF), Hannah Flippen (SS), Tori Vidales (1B), Erika Piancastelli (RF), Aubrey Leach (2B), Jordan Roberts (C), Andrea Filler (DP), Sam Fischer (3B), Aliyah Andrews (LF), Megan Faraimo (P)
- Winning Pitcher: Megan Faraimo (2-0)
- Losing Pitcher: Rachel Garcia (1-1)
- Save: n/a
- Time of Game: 2:14
Game MVPs:
- #1 – Sam Fischer (Team Faraimo), +60 points
- #2 – Megan Faraimo (Team Faraimo), +40 points
- #3 – Andrea Filler (Team Faraimo), +20 points
Game Recap:
ROSEMONT, Illinois – Pitcher Megan Faraimo has certainly proven she is playing like a veteran in Athletes Unlimited Softball’s Championship Season and if there were any questions, she made sure to answer them on Friday night.
Making her debut as a captain, the talented rookie authored the first complete game of her professional career while guiding Team Faraimo to an exciting 4-1 victory over Team Garcia in the nightcap at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.
Faraimo, who upped her record to 2-0 in the circle, scattered five hits while allowing one run en route to securing MVP 2 honors. The former UCLA standout registered nine strikeouts and finished the evening with 224 leaderboard points.
Corner infielder Sam Fischer provided the offensive energy for Team Faraimo in the victory after going 2-for-3 with a home run and a single. Fischer, who claimed MVP 1 distinction, posted the fourth 200-point game of her Championship Season career after ending the night with 220 points.
Middie infielder Andrea Filler secured the MVP sweep for Team Faraimo after driving the game-winning runs with a single in the sixth inning to end Friday’s win with 140 leaderboard points.
Corner infielder Jessi Warren led Team Garcia in the loss by going 2-for-3 with a run batted in. Team captain Rachel Garcia (1-1) took the loss after giving four earned runs on three hits in 5.2 innings with six strikeouts.
How It Happened:
Team Faraimo broke a 1-all tie by plating three runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. After loading the bases on three consecutive walks, Filler drove in two runs with a single to left field for a 3-1 advantage. Fischer followed with a single down the left field line to add an insurance run.
Leaderboard Impact:
Faraimo’s 224-point performance lifted into the top spot on the leaderboard with a 50-point edge over middle infielder Sierra Romero, while Garcia dipped to third place with 502 points. Fischer, meanwhile, stands sixth after collecting 220 leaderboard points in the victory.
Game Notes:
- Team Garcia and Team Faraimo combined to score five runs in Friday’s second game, moving the league’s season total to 46 runs through eight games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of its ‘Round the Bases’ initiative.
- Faraimo reached 200 leaderboard points in a game for the second time this season after notching 212 points last Sunday in Team McCleney’s 4-3 victory over Team Rhodes.
- Faraimo became the eighth different pitcher in Championship Season history to record seven or more strikeouts in a game … She registered the 19th game with seven or more strikeouts in the league’s four-year history.
- Warren registered the 13th multi-hit game of her Championship Season career with her two-hit performance.
- Middle infielder Aubrey Leach received the first intentional walk of the season with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
- The teams combined to leave 13 runners on base.
Saturday Games:
Athletes Unlimited – Saturday Schedule 🗓️
Team Faraimo vs. Team Romero, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Team Zerkle vs. Team Garcia, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN+📸: @AUProSports https://t.co/J2cOpVzXU2 pic.twitter.com/EOjh2SIhdy
— D1Softball (@D1Softball) August 5, 2023
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