As the final doubleheader in Week Two of the 2024 AU Pro Softball Championship Season concluded, the leaderboard is highly contested. The adage “The more things change the more they stay the same” comes to mind. In this case, fans are getting treated to dominance at the plate and in the circle so far this season. That being said, here’s a recap of Games Eleven and Twelve of the Championship Season.
Game Eleven: Amazing Veteran Efforts on Display in AU Pro Softball
Photo Credit: Jade Hewitt/Athletes Unlimited
In this game, Skylar Wallace and the Purple Team were seeking their second win of the week. On the other side, Amanda Lorenz and the Blue Team sought a sweep of the week. The offense did not start until the third inning as Bubba Nickles slammed a two-run homer down the left-field line for Team Lorenz. Team Wallace tied it up in the fourth with an RBI single by Andrea Filler and Erin Coffel crossed the plate via a fielding error.
Following that, it was all Team Purple as Sashel Palacios added an RBI in the fifth and Morgan Zerkle hit a two-run single in the sixth. For Zerkle, she became the first player to compete in 100 career games between AUX and the Pro Softball Championship Season. Coffel would go yard and Caroline Jacobsen hit an RBI double to cap off the scoring for Wallace’s squad to get the 7-2 win.
Coffel with a HR to seal the deal 🤝🏽#AUProSB x 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/n0fAtT35ty
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) August 4, 2024
Pitcher Megan Faraimo picked up her first win of the season along with MVP 1 honors. She went four-and-a-third innings, striking out four while allowing two hits. Teammates Palacios and Zerkle won MVP 2 and MVP 3 honors, respectively.
Game Twelve: Extra Innings to Close Out Week Two
Photo Credit: Jade Hewitt/Athletes Unlimited
Here, Taylor McQuillin and Team Orange came into the game against Lexi Kilfoyl and the Gold Team without a win in the week. Team McQuillin took an early lead in the third inning thanks to RBIs from Aubrey Leach and Kelsey Harshman. The Orange squad added to their lead in the fourth with two RBIs from Leach and another run came on a fielding error.
However, the five-run lead disappeared as Team Kilfoyl would respond in the sixth with five runs of their own. First, Claire Davidson and Taylor Edwards hit RBIs to close the gap but Kalei Harding tied it with a three-run shot to left. It would remain tied as the game shifted to extra innings at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex.
ONE SWING. TIE GAME. KALEI HARDING.@kaleiharding | 📺 Bally Sports pic.twitter.com/kRIex1e2jv
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) August 4, 2024
Team Orange wasted no time as they scored three runs in the top of the eighth. Erika Piancastelli hit an RBI double and scored on a fielding error. Finally, McKenzie Clark scored Gwen Svekis on a sacrifice fly as Team Gold did not score in the bottom of the inning. The 8-5 win gave Team Orange their first win in the final game of Week Two.
McQuillin won MVP 1 honors, allowing three hits with three strikeouts in seven-and-a-third innings of work. Leach and her three total RBIs garnered MVP 1 honors as Piancastelli’s two hits and runs scored gave her MVP 3 honors.
Week Three Captains of the AU Pro Softball Championship Season
When it comes to the captains of Week Three, three of the four led squads from Week Two. Lorenz will lead Team Gold, Kilfoyl for Team Orange, and McQuillin for the Blue Team. The lone new captain will be Palacios as she captains the Purple Team. It is important to note that Wallace fell three spots to sixth place on the leaderboard.
the Week 3 Captains 👀
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) August 5, 2024
💛 @amandalorenz18
🧡 @lexikilfoyl
🩵 @taybeezzyyy
💜 @seashel_13 #AUProSB pic.twitter.com/V46tLshlG0
As for the opening doubleheader for Week Three, Team McQuillin faces Team Kilfoyl in the first game on August 7th at 5:00 p.m. ET. Team Lorenz will play Team Palacios to close out the doubleheader at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both matchups are slated to be on ESPN2 as the race for the championship rolls on in Rosemont.
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