Despite earning three wins against the Volts throughout the past few days of Athletics Unlimited Softball League play at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas, the Volts earned the last laugh of the series tonight in a 7-5 victory.
While they performed solidly on defense throughout the game, the second inning hosted the most significant offensive action. Utility Danieca Coffey reached first base due to a throwing error by pitcher Emiley Kennedy, and an ensuing error by the right fielder resulted in a four-run play for the Volts.
“I just think holding onto that and keeping that momentum throughout the rest of the game really helped, but also just took some pressure off our pitchers, took some pressure off our bats,” infielder Tiare Jennings said in a postgame press conference. “So, I just thought it was really huge in that moment.”
Batting directly after Coffey, Jennings carried this momentum forward by hitting a home run to right center field and adding a fifth run to the inning.
Volts head coach Kelly Kretschman emphasized the crowd’s contribution to the excitement of this inning and of the game altogether.
“This is coming up to an end of the season, of their opportunity to get to play together,” she said. “To be honest, if they can’t get excited to play in front of this many people, then something’s wrong.”
On the other hand, the Bandits found themselves unable to use the atmosphere’s energy to capitalize offensively during the second inning. Infielder Sydney McKinney got to first base with a bunt, but her effort was followed by two groundouts and a flyout.
Neither team added to the scoreboard during the following two innings, and by the end of the fourth, the Volts still led the Bandits 6-2.
Infielder Jessi Warren, the second hitter of the fifth inning, drilled a home run down the left field line to put the Volts up 7-2.
Former Texas Longhorn outfielder Bella Dayton hit a double to left field for the Bandits in the bottom of the fifth, but the team still came up scoreless by the inning’s conclusion.
However, in the bottom of the sixth, infielder Delanie Wisz earned a home run to lower her team’s deficit to four runs. Skylar Wallace also helped minimize the gap in the bottom of the seventh when she hit a home run and brought outfielder Morgan Zerkle home with her.
Even though the Bandits ultimately fell short by two runs in this game, they have already qualified to play in the first-ever AUSL Championship against the Talons.
The Volts, having missed qualification for the championship, will finish their season playing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from July 22-23.
For Kretschman, finishing the season in Tuscaloosa means playing in a familiar setting. Before her professional and coaching career began, she spent her collegiate years representing the Alabama Crimson Tide on the diamond.
“I’m hoping that the crowds show up there as well,” Kretschman said. “Because if you’ve never played in that stadium, it can be just as loud as being in front of 6,000 people. Just being back in Tuscaloosa, getting to experience standing on the field again. I’ve been back since I was done, but whether it be playing or coaching, the excitement of bringing this league to those fans is going to be really cool to see.”
With just two games remaining in their season, the Volts look to finish the regular season strong against the Talons this week.
