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Talons triumph in Fouts' homecoming, Gold powers Blaze past Bandits

Screenshot 2025-02-05 152517by: Cooper Taylor07/23/25
Screenshot 2025-07-22 at 9.03.54 PM
Photo courtesy of Jade Hewitt / AUSL

Talons 6, Volts 4

The Talons have already clinched first place and a spot in the AUSL championship. So following tonight’s 6-4 win over the Volts, the Talons continue to fuel their championship run.

The Talons grabbed control quickly in the first inning, knocking in three runs off Volts starter Sam Landry. Tori Vidales, Bri Ellis and Caroline Jacobsen all picked up RBIs in the opening frame.

In Montana Fouts’ Tuscaloosa homecoming, the former Alabama All-American struck out the side in the first. In the second, Erika Piancastelli homered in a pair of runs on her first career AUSL long ball, cutting the Talons’ lead to 3-2.

Jessi Warren’s solo homer in the fourth then tied the game for the Volts. However, in the home half, Jadelyn Allchin singled in a run to give the Talons a one-run lead again. Then, Maya Brady padded the lead in the fifth, scoring a pair of runs on a single.

Georgina Corrick finished things off for the Talons, tossing the final three innings and allowing just one run on Sierra Romero’s sixth-inning solo shot. Corrick’s save marked her fourth of the season.

Blaze 12, Bandits 6

While the Bandits have already cemented their spot in the AUSL championship series, the Blaze won 12-6 and tied the Volts for third place in the league standings.

The two teams combined for 29 hits in the Blaze’s shootout victory. A dropped pop fly in the first inning opened the scoring for the Blaze. Kayla Kowalik then doubled, scoring the second unearned run of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, the Bandits took a one-run lead. Erin Coffel drove in a pair on a two-run single. Then, Jordan Roberts grounded out to score a third run.

The second inning was full of fireworks. The Blaze pushed across six runs in the big inning. Aliyah Andrews and Aubrey Leach exchanged RBIs, making way for a pair of two-run extra-base hits. The first came from the bat of Baylee Klingler, a run-scoring double. Then, Ana Gold mashed a two-run homer. In the home half, Morgan Zerkle hit a solo shot to make it an 8-4 Blaze lead.

In the third, Leach added her second RBI single of the game and Cori McMillan brought in a pair to cut the Blaze lead to 9-6 after three innings.

Gold added three more RBIs in the final few frames. The rookie homered in the fourth, stretching the lead to four. Then in the seventh, she singled home two more runs. Meanwhile, rookie Aliyah Binford dazzled in relief for the Blaze, tossing four scoreless innings and striking out five. Gold stole the show, though, collecting three base hits and driving in six runs.

The Bandits secured second place in the AUSL standings last week, but the loss diminishes some of their momentum. Meanwhile, the Blaze have looked more confident after a tough start to the season.

The four teams close out the regular season on Wednesday. The Talons face the Volts at 7 ET on ESPN2, Bandits and Blaze close things out at 8:30 ET on MLB.com.

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