Skip to main content

Bandits clinch spot in AUSL championship, Brady, Chaffin lift the Talons

Screenshot 2024-07-31 at 7.46.34 PMby: Brady Vernon07/18/25BradyVernon
Screenshot 2025-07-17 at 7.49.53 PM
Photo courtesy of AUSL / Jade Hewitt

Bandits 8, Volts 7

It wasn’t easy, but the Bandits outslugged the Volts 8-7 in Texas to secure a spot against the AUSL championship series next week in Alabama.

Skylar Wallace’s three-run blast – one of five home runs in the series opener in Round Rock – just stayed fair to give the Bandits the lead for good in the sixth.

Morgan Zerkle took back the league’s home run lead, hitting her seventh round-tripper in the third. Danielle Gibson Whorton tied the game later in the frame with an RBI single. The newest Bandit also had an RBI double to give the Bandits the lead again in the fourth.

The Volts surged back, loading the bases against Emiley Kennedy before recording an out. Ciara Briggs tied the game with a two-RBI single that snuck through the infield. Erika Piancastelli then gave the Volts the lead with an RBI double. Lexi Kilfoyl entered the game and limited the damage to keep the Bandits in the game before Wallace came through. Kilfoyl tossed three innings, allowing three hits and one run.

Amanda Lorenz hit her second home run of the game in the sixth, but it was too little, too late. Jessie Warren also hit a homer for the Volts earlier in the game.

Talons 5, Blaze 4

Maya Brady didn’t wait long to make an impact in the AUSL. The former UCLA star blasted a two-run go-ahead homer in the fourth to propel her team to a win. Brady, who has yet to be retired in her two AUSL games, went 3-for-3 with a walk.

The teams traded early blows. The Talons matched Baylee Klingler’s solo shot in the the top of the first with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Hannah Flippen singled in Brady and Sierra Sacco after they both reached to open the game again. Sydney Romero hit a two-out double to score Flippen.

The Blaze fired up the bats right back up against Talons starter Megan Faraimo. Devyn Netz drove in two runs to tie the game after her teammates Kayla Kowalik and Aliyah Binford walked and doubled to start the frame. Netz came around to score the go-ahead run on a Aliyah Andrews single.

The scoring halted after Blaze starter Emme Lemley calmed down after first and Binford and Netz did well in relief. Raelin Chaffin did a tremendous job for the Talons. The Mississippi State rookie entered in the second and tossed 3.2 scoreless innings for her sixth win of the season. Georgina Corrick closed the game, picking up the final five outs. She allowed one hit, a two-out double from Kowalik in the seventh to put the game-tying run in scoring position.

AUSL Standings

Talons* 16-4
Bandits* 12-7
Volts 6-13
Blaze 5-15

*= clinched spot in AUSL Championship Series

The four teams continue their series in Round Rock, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah, but the AUSL Championship Series in Tuscaloosa next week is now set. The Talons and Bandits face off in the first game of that series on July 26 at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

BUY TICKETS TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP HERE

More from Softball America:

Brooke Wells, Jena Young enhance Alabama lineup
Inside look at the Clemson transfer class
What to know about the Tennessee transfer trio

You may also like