With Week Two of the 2024 AU Softball Championship Season underway, it has been about the rookies making an immediate impact. Yet, veterans of Athletes Unlimted Softball have stepped up and are holding their own. The opening game of this week’s doubleheader was a matchup between two of the best players in Athletes Unlimted faced off as captains.
Conversely, a pair of first-time captains seeking their first win in that position. That being said, here’s a recap of Games Seven and Eight from the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Illinois.
Game Seven: Reigning AUX Champion Picks Up in AU Softball Season
In this game, outfielder Amanda Lorenz led the Blue Team against pitcher Taylor McQuillin and the Orange Team. Following a scoreless two innings, McKenzie Clark hit her first homer of the Championship Season to give Team McQuillin the early lead in the third inning.
signed. sealed. delivered. ✉️#AUProSB pic.twitter.com/ierSVTqnky
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) August 2, 2024
Team Lorenz would get the lead back in the fourth innings thanks to Bubba Nickles and a two-run RBI double. Nickles would add another RBI in the sixth inning to give Lorenz’s squad the 3-1 victory, taking home MVP 1 honors. Lorenz took home MVP 2 honors as Clark was the MVP 3 in a losing effort.
What’s more, Aleshia Ocasio got the win as she allowed one hit in two-and-one-third innings of work. Kathryn Sandercock started the matchup for Team Lorenz but would get the save as well, the fourth one of her career in AU Softball.
Game Eight: Youth and Experience Led the Way
Next, rookie captains Lexi Kilfoyl and Skylar Wallace faced off as the leaders of Team Gold and Team Purple respectively to close out the doubleheader. The offense started with an RBI single by Sis Bates for Team Kilfoyl in the third inning. In the fifth inning, Taylor Edwards hit a double to right center that knocked in two runs.
Lastly, Team Gold closed out the offense with an RBI single by Claire Davidson and a two-run blast by Edwards in the seventh. It was a rough day offensively for Wallace and Team Purple as they were shut out 6-0. Edwards and her four RBI performance at the plate led to her being the MVP 1. Davidson won MVP 3 honors while Kilfoyl was the MVP 2.
Taylor Edwards = Elite#AUProSB pic.twitter.com/PTk5w0y8M0
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) August 3, 2024
Kilfoyl went five innings, allowing three hits with five strikeouts in the win. The right-hander has impressed with a 3-0 record, 0.37 ERA, and 13 strikeouts in 19 innings of work this season.
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