As I have noted, great pitching has been a rarity in AUX Softball and it’s not because of bad pitching. The reason is that the bats have been scorching this summer in San Diego. However, only eight runs combined were scored in games eleven and twelve of AUX Softball. To put it another way, two teams scored eight runs in a game in series two. So, without further ado, let’s look at the final two games of series two.
Game Eleven: Team Fischer Makes AUX Softball History in 3-0 Win Over Team Gibson
By and large, infielder Sam Fischer‘s squad needed minimal offense to pull out this win over infielder Danielle Gibson’s team. The first run of the game came off the bat of designated player Taylor Edwards in the second inning. In this case, the former Nebraska Cornhusker hit a solo homer down the right-field line to give Team Fischer the lead. What’s more, she was the MVP 2 of the game for her performance.
Next, Fischer’s team added two more runs in the fifth inning as infielder Sydney Romeo and Fischer each had an RBI. Romero, a member of Team Mexico in the 2020 Olympics, was the game’s MVP 3. As for the pitching, right-handers Mariah Mazon and Sydney Littlejohn Watkins, along with lefty Danielle O’Toole were amazing.
BRING OUT THE BROOMS @Slittlejohn28 closes the book on the Team Fischer Series Sweep 🧹#AUX | 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/04wvfzIlHZ
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 21, 2022
All three pitchers combined to allow just three hits and sit down four Team Gibson batters. Both Mazon and Watkins had a pair of strikeouts each in the game. Unquestionably, Mazon was the MVP 1 as the Oregon State star threw three scoreless innings with two strikeouts. It’s important to note that the shutout was the first in the history of AUX Softball.
Game Twelve: Gibson’s Squad Shutout Again 5-0 to Team Mulipola
All things considered, Gibson and her team didn’t have the greatest doubleheader. To clarify, Team Gibson had just four hits over games eleven and twelve, including just one in this matchup. In addition, they were shut out once more.
In essence, all of the offense for Dejah Mulipola’s team came late in this game. First, they pushed across four runs in the fourth inning as designated pitcher Rachel Garcia had two RBIs.
The former UCLA standout earned MVP 1 honors for her efforts in the game. Additionally, infielder Caleigh Clifton and outfielder Haylie McCleney each added an RBI in the inning. Clifton was the game’s MVP 3 with her two-hit performance. Following an RBI double by infielder Tori Vidales in the fifth inning, it was the final RBI of series two.
corricK 😎@georgecorrick | 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/5GucpPl0g2
— Athletes Unlimited (@AUProSports) June 21, 2022
Garcia, as well as pitchers Carrie Eberle and Georgina Corrick, shut down the bats of Team Gibson. In this instance, both Eberle and Garcia each had a pair of strikeouts to their name. Yet, Corrick was awarded the MVP 2 as she threw three scoreless innings.
The Leaderboard Entering Series Three
The race for the top spot is close as we enter the final series of inaugural AUX Softball. Fischer holds a ten-point lead over O’Toole as outfielder Morgan Zerkle is in the third position.
Mulipola is just two points out of third. Could we see a non-pitcher win, or will O’Toole pull it out? We’ll see as series three gets underway.
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