Team Lorenz, Kilfoyl open Series Two with wins

Team Lorenz and Kilfoyl pitched their way to wins to start Series Two as their captains sit atop the leaderboard heading into Saturday.

Team Lorenz 3, Team McQuillin 1

The first game was not streamed, recaps are via Eric Rhew of Athletes Unlimited

Outfielders Amanda Lorenz and Bubba Nickles combined to register five hits with three runs batted in as Team Lorenz posted a 3-1 victory over Team McQuillin to begin Friday’s Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball Championship Season doubleheader at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

Team McQuillin claimed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning before Team Lorenz answered with three consecutive runs for a 3-1 advantage it did not relinquish. Nickles drove in a pair of runs with a double to left field in the fourth inning before adding an RBI single in the sixth frame

Nickles garnered MVP 1 accolades and a game-high 190 leaderboard points after going 3-for-4 with a double and two singles. The former UCLA standout also drove in all three runs for Team Lorenz in the victory.

Lorenz, meanwhile, claimed MVP 2 distinction with 180 leaderboard points following a 2-for-2 effort with a double and two walks in her debut as a captain.

Aleshia Ocasio (1-0) earned her first win of the season after giving up just one hit over 2.1 innings with a walk. Kathryn Sandercock, who drew the start in the circle, threw 2.2 innings before being replaced by Ocasio, but returned in the seventh inning to nail down her first save of the campaign.

Five different players tallied a hit in the loss for Team McQuillin, including outfielder McKenzie Clark, who belted a solo home run in the third inning to give her squad a 1-0 lead.

Taylor McQuillin dropped to 2-1 in the circle after allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.

Team Kilfoyl 6, Team Wallace 0

Catcher Taylor Edwards registered a pair of hits and drove in four runs while pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl registered 5.0 scoreless innings in the circle as Team Kilfoyl blanked Team Wallace by a 6-0 count to complete Friday’s split doubleheader in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball action at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

Edwards, who finished the night going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, earned MVP 1 honors and 240 leaderboard points after guiding the Team Kilfoyl offense.

Kilfoyl received MVP 2 distinction after upping her record to 3-0 in the circle with another outstanding effort. The rookie right-handed pitcher scattered three hits and struck out five en route to collecting 220 leaderboard points.

Rookie outfielder Claire Davidson completed the Game MVP sweep after receiving MVP 3 notice. The former Duke standout reached base safely in all four plate appearances, including a pair of hits to go with a walk and a hit by pitch.

Pitcher Rachel Garcia teamed up with Kilfoyl to post the shutout, throwing the final 2.0 innings without conceding a hit to earn her first save of the season.

Three different players tallied a hit in the loss for Team Wallace. Megan Faraimo dropped to 0-3 after giving up three runs on four hits over 4.2 innings with four strikeouts.

AU Softball Leaderboard

1. Lexi Kilfoyl – 728 points
2. Amanda Lorenz – 630 pts
3. Claire Davidson – 538 pts
4. Taylor McQuillin – 520 pts
5. Taylor Edwards – 490 pts

Saturday’s Schedule

Team Wallace vs. Team McQuillin | ESPN2 | 5 p.m. EST

Team Kilfoyl vs. Team Kilfoyl | ESPNU | 7:30 p.m. EST