While the pitching in Athletes Unlimited Softball has been stellar, the bats came out big time in Games Nine and Ten. Here, the winning teams scored double-digit runs with plenty of long balls. Here’s a recap of the offensive explosions from both matchups.
Game Nine: Team Romero Dominated in a 13 – 4 win over Team Faraimo
In this case, being a pitcher on Megan Faraimo’s team was a rough day as Sierra Romero’s squad brought the firepower. Team Romero had an 8 – 0 lead after five innings and never looked. Without question, the performances from Bubba Nickles, Shannon Rhodes, and Mia Davidson guided the way.
All three combined for seven of the 10 runs with all three hitting homers in this matchup. Firstly, Nickles’ lone hit was a three-run home run in the fifth inning to left field.
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Also, Rhodes’ only hit was a two-run to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lastly, one of Davidson’s two hits saw the ball carry over the left field wall in the third.
The remaining three runs were unearned from a throwing error in the bottom of the second inning. As for the pitching, Aleshia Ocasio allowed five hits with two strikeouts in five innings of work in the victory.
Moreover, it was her 15th game throwing at least five innings. She is now second behind the legend Cat Osterman in such games in Athletes Unlimited Softball history.
For Faraimo’s team, all the offense came from Erika Piancastelli. She had three hits and three RBIs in the loss.
Game Ten: A Six-Run Fourth Propels Team Zerkle to a 13 – 4 Victory over Team Garcia
Credit: Jade Hewitt – Athletes Unlimited
Like Team Faraimo, being in the circle for Rachel Garcia’s team was a rough day at the office. Morgan Zerkle and her squad had 13 runs and 17 hits. Both are season highs. Rookie Rachel Becker led Team Zerkle with four RBIs off two hits.
Next, Gwen Svekis and Danielle Gibson added two RBIs apiece. Svekis went deep in the top of the third with a two-run homer. Gibson knocked in her runs as part of that six-run fourth inning. That inning saw two of Becker’s four RBIs with RBI singles from Amanda Lorenz and Josie Muffley.
Rookie Caroline Jacobson went two-of-five at the plate, including a solo homer. Moreover, Zerkle and Delanie Wisz added an RBI in the game. Most of the offense from Team Garcia came from Dejah Mulipola and Kelsey Harshman.
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Mulipola hit a two-run double in the first inning as Harshman hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth. The other came on a throwing error, scoring Victoria Hayward.
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