All things considered, the first series of the 2024 AUX Softball Season provided the fans in attendance with excellent efforts at Wilkins Stadium. Specifically, the rookies made their presence known in the circle and at the plate. When looking at the leaderboard, six of the top 10 players are rookies, including atop said leaderboard (more on that later). That being said, here is a recap of the final doubleheader of Series One.
Game Five: A Walk-Off Win Opened the AUX Softball Doubleheader
Entering the matchup, Aubrey Leach‘s and Jessi Warren‘s squad were on a two-game winning streak. The first run of the game came via the long ball off the bat of rookie Jocelyn Alo for Team Leach. Following a scoreless second and third inning, Team Leach added five runs in the top of the fourth.
First, AUX Softball veteran Sam Fischer hit an RBI double to left field. Two batters and a pitching change later, McKenzie Clark decided to clear the bases with a grand slam to left center. With Team Leach up 6-0 after four innings, the game felt over.
MCKENZIE. CLARK. GRAND SLAM!#AUProSB | ESPNU pic.twitter.com/waHpKWom8E
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 13, 2024
However, Team Warren would have something to say about that. In the fifth, rookies Jordyn Rudd-Lee and Karli Spaid slammed back-to-back homers. Rudd-Lee hit a two-run shot while Spaid’s was a solo shot.
Fischer and Team Leach responded with a solo home run in the top half of the sixth to make it a 7-3 game. In the bottom half of the inning, Tori Vidales hit a home run as Kalei Harding hit an RBI double to close the gap for Team Warren. Leach’s team did not score in their half of the seventh, opening the door for Team Warren.
Warren stepped up to the plate with two runners, facing rookie righty Montana Fouts. The team captain wasted no time, hitting a walk-off three-run shot to left field to get the 8-7 victory.
THE CAPTAIN WINS IT FOR HER TEAM@jessicawarren30 walks it off in the bottom of the 7th to complete the comeback! #AUProSB | ESPNU pic.twitter.com/fWOohs5qXe
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 14, 2024
She took home MVP 1 honors while teammates Rudd-Lee and Hannah Flippen won MVP 3 and Defensive MVP honors, respectively. Clark was the MVP 2.
Game Six: A Close Game Under the Lights at Wilkins Stadium
After a collective breath, Team Warren took the field once again to face Megan Wiggins and her team at night to close Series One. It was a scoreless first inning until Sydney McKinney hit an RBI sacrifice fly for Team Wiggins in the top of the second inning. Spaid would respond for Team Warren with a three-run shot to left-center field. It was her second homer of the day to have Warren’s squad take a 3-1 lead.
Syd hitting doubles at Wilkins Stadium just feels right #AUProSB pic.twitter.com/OL9tt8HBUs
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 14, 2024
The fourth inning saw Bubba Nickles get an RBI on a fielder’s choice as Taylor Edwards knocked in two runs with a single to center field. Team Wiggins retook the lead by a 4-3 score until Billie Andrews tied it up with a homer to left field in the bottom of the inning. This game was tied four runs apiece until the top of the seventh.
McKinney doubled down the line in left field, scoring Kelsey Stewart-Hunter to take a 5-4 lead. Team Warren was unable to score in the bottom of the inning. MVP 1 honors went to McKinney and Edwards won MVP 2 honors. Pitcher Taylor McQuillin won MVP 3 honors, going four innings while allowing four hits and striking out four. Additionally, Jadelyn Allchin was the Defensive MVP.
makin' plays at midnight @jadelynallchin | ESPNU pic.twitter.com/f6GYlS72dj
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 14, 2024
AUX Softball Series Two Captains
As for Series Two, Alo is the captain of Team Gold with 520 points. Despite Nickles being in second, she will not be in Series Two. This means Edwards will lead Team Orange while Clark captains Team Blue.
the 2024 AUX Series 2 Captains
— AU Pro Softball (@auprosoftball) June 14, 2024
@78jocelyn_alo
@TayEdwards212
@mac_clark_7 #AUProSB | @KochIndustries pic.twitter.com/oUzik3eu6F
The action will resume June 16th at 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with Team Clark vs. Team Edwards and Team Alo against Team Edwards in the second game at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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