At long last, AUX Softball made its debut this week as we’ll see 42 amazing softball players throughout 18 games. What’s more, it opened up with two great games played in San Diego, California, where all games will be held. So let’s recap what happened in both games on Day One of the two-week event without further ado.
Game One: Team Chidester Victorious in First AUX Softball Game
Jade Hewitt – Athletes Unlimited
To begin the game, outfielders Haylie McCleney and Morgan Zerkle were walked by UCLA great Rachel Garcia of Team Ocasio. The first hit in AUX Softball history belongs to team captain Amanda Chidester, who hit a single down the left side, scoring McCleney.
In the opening inning, Chidester’s squad put up six runs as defensive superstar Sis Bates knocked in two runs. Bates won MVP 3 honors for her performance as the shortstop earned 20 points.
However, Ocasio’s team, led by last year’s winner of Athletes Unlimited softball Aleshia Ocasio, scored a pair in the bottom of the first. Both runs came on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Garcia.
Despite losing the game, infielder Sierra Romeo slammed the first homer in AUX history in the bottom of the third. Overall, the Rockledge, Florida native had three hits in the contest. Furthermore, she was the game’s MVP 2, earning herself 40 points.
ROMO BOMB 💣 @Sierrajoy32 gets all of this one and sends it screaming over the LF wall 🥵#AUX | 📺: ESPNU pic.twitter.com/ynU6D2G43S
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 13, 2022
Right-hander Rachele Fico earned the win in the circle for Team Chidester. The former LSU Tiger allowed just one run on two hits in three innings of relief in the 8-3 victory. Garcia took the loss for Ocasio’s team after allowing eight runs on seven hits over two and two-thirds innings.
Game Two: Taylor Edwards Hands Team Ocasio Their Second Loss
Credit: Jade Hewitt – Athletes Unlimited
All things considered, Team Ocasio looked to have the game in hand, up 5–2 entering the seventh inning. They scored two runs in the opening frame as outfielder Aliyah Andrews scored on a wild pitch and catcher Jordan Roberts hit an RBI single, scoring Romero.
On the other hand, Team Eberle, led by last year’s Athletes Unlimited Rookie of the Year in pitcher Carrie Eberle, scored twice also.
A two-run big fly courtesy of outfielder Megan Wiggins gave Eberle’s squad an early lead in the first. However, that home run by the former Georgia Bulldogs player would be Team Eberle’s only run until the seventh inning. She got MVP 2 honors for her effort, getting 40 points.
MEGAN. WIGGINS. 🥵@TheMeganWiggins drills this ball over the right field wall 🤯#AUX | 📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/TRRE4wtlBP
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 14, 2022
As for Ocasio’s team, they added two runs in the second with RBIs from Roberts and Romero. Additionally, they added another run in the bottom of the sixth. Outfielder Amanda Lorenz had three hits in the game, garnering MVP 3 honors and earning 20 points.
Don’t Call it a Comeback…or Maybe Call it a Comeback
In the seventh inning, the bats of Team Eberle came to life as they put up four runs in the frame. First, catcher Gwen Svekis had an RBI single to right field, scoring first baseman Tori Vidales. Next, Taylor Edwards stepped into the box and hit a three-run shot to left field, putting Eberle’s team up 6–5.
IT’S NOT OVER TIL IT’S OVER 😤
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 14, 2022
All @TayEdwards212 needed was one swing. #BeUnlimited | #AUX pic.twitter.com/CjbBsbIodb
As a matter of fact, the former Nebraska Cornhusker was the MVP 1 of the game, earning 60 points. So the first two games might be the preview of what we see in this event.
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