Finally, Season Three of AU Softball is here and it didn’t disappoint to open the season. The first two games were close and competitive, with impressive performances. These next five weeks will give us all of the drama to crown a champion. That being said, let’s recap Games One and Two of AU Softball Season Three.
Game One: Team Eberle wins it late over Team Chidester
Photo Credit: Jade Hewitt – Athletes Unlimited
First, pitcher Carrie Eberle’s squad came out swinging, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Outfielder Jazmyn Jackson knocked in the first run of Season Three with an RBI double to left field. In addition, infielder Hannah Flippen and catcher Taylor Edwards each RBI singles to give Team Eberle the early 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, infielder Anissa Urtez slammed the first homer in AU Softball this year to put infielder Amanda Chidester’s team on the board. Chidester’s squad added another run in the third with two home runs off the bats of Chidester and infielder Erika Piancastelli. Following three straight scoreless innings, the game was tied three runs apiece entering the seventh inning.
TIE BALL GAME 🤯@chiddy3 and @Uurka_20 hit back-to-back jacks to tie things up at 3 a piece 🥵#AUSB | 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/yMYwwktP0N
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) July 30, 2022
Outfielder Victoria Hayward for Team Eberle scored on an error and a passed ball in their half of the seventh. As a result, it ended up being the winning run for Eberle’s team. What’s more, the team captain won MVP 1 honors as Eberle threw four scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. Also, Flippen and Hayward were the MVP 2 and MVP 3, respectively.
Game Two: Dominance in the circle leads Team Zerkle over Team Ocasio
Photo Credit: Jade Hewitt – Athletes Unlimited
All in all, if you love some amazing pitching, outfielder Morgan Zerkle’s team had it. However, for pitcher Alecia Ocasio’s team, runs were at a premium. In this case, pitchers Rachel Garcia and Taylor McQuillin led the way in the circle for Team Zerkle. To put it another way, Ocasio’s team was shut out for four consecutive innings. The lone runs came from a moonshot by Ocasio in the fifth and infielder Abby Ramirez scoring on a wild pitch in the sixth.
respect.@ALESHIAOCASIO | 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/JwISDRdRln
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) July 30, 2022
The offense for Team Zerkle came with two runs in the first inning. Shortstop Sydney Romero hit an RBI double, with catcher Dejah Mulipola hitting an RBI single in the inning. Additionally, Zerkle’s team scored two more times in the game. Zerkle helped her cause with an RBI double in the fourth and Mulipola went deep in the fifth. To no one’s surprise, Garcia won MVP 1 honors as Mulipola and McQuillin rounded out as MVPs 2 and 3.
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