A Tale Of Two Games Out West In The AUSL

Originally posted on Beyond Women's Sports
By LaDarius Brown | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 9:18 PM ET

As the inaugural AUSL rolls on, the standings among the four teams has two teams rising above the others. The regular season is slowly creeping up to its conclusion with much on the line as the final two games in Omaha and Seattle were played. That being said, here’s a recap of Games 35 and 36 of the AUSL on the West Coast.

Game 35: Digging In Atop The AUSL Standings

In this matchup, the Talons face the Bandits as each team has one win apiece in their series at Connie Clausen Field in Omaha. Tori Vidales put the Talons on the board with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the first inning. Next, the Bandits scored thanks to a two-run home run by Skylar Wallace in the top of inning No. 3.

However, the Talons clawed back into the lead in the bottom half of the third, plating four runs. Caroline Jacobsen hit an RBI single, Ali Aguilar brought home two with a double, and Vidales scored on a throwing error. Despite an RBI single by Cori McMillan of the Bandits in the seventh, the Talons got the 6-3 win. It’s important to note the Talons clinched a spot in the postseason via a loss by the Blaze last Saturday.

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Also, Raelin Chaffin picked up her fifth win of the AUSL season, going four innings and allowing a hit, an earned run, and a pair of strikeouts. She has tied her five wins for the most this season..

Game 36: An Outburst Of Offense In Seattle

Here, the aforementioned Blaze faced the Volts at Husky Softball Stadium in Seattle, looking for their win of the series. Following a scoreless first inning, Ana Gold‘s solo homer to left field gave the Blaze an early lead in the top of the second. Dejah Mulipola got the Volts on the board with an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the fourth. Yet, the Blaze took the lead by way of a Devyn Netz solo shot in the fifth inning, but the lead expanded in the sixth and seventh innings.

In their half of the sixth and seventh, the Blaze got a total of eight runs. Looking at the sixth, A Baylee Klingler RBI double and RBI single by Gold started it off. Afterwards, Klingler later scored on a throwing error as McKenzie Clark hit a two-run homer. Finally, Gold added a pair of RBIs while Klingler scored once again on a throwing error in the seventh.

Although Mulipola hit a shot homer down the left field line, the Blaze got the 10-2 victory and win No. 5 on the season. Pitchers Alana Vawter, Emma Lemley, and Keilani Ricketts combined to allow three hits, two earned runs, and struck out six. Of the six strikeouts, four belonged to Ricketts who notched her win of the AUSL season.

This article first appeared on Beyond Women's Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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