The Talons were three outs away from defeating the Bandits in Game 1 of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League’s inaugural championship series, but inclement weather rained on their parade Saturday, July 26, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The first game in the best-of-three series was postponed in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Talons led the Bandits 3-1 after rainstorms led to multiple weather delays at Rhoads Stadium. Game 1 will resume on Sunday, July 27, at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2, followed by Game 2 of the title series at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.
‘Thank you for your understanding and support,’ the AUSL said in a statement.
Here’s everything you need to know about the AUSL championship series:
What happened in Game 1 of the AUSL championship series?
Game 1 was originally scheduled to get underway at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, but rainstorms and lightning led to a two-hour weather delay and pushed the start back to 5 p.m. ET.
The first three innings of Game 1 featured a pitchers duel between the Talons’ Georgina Corrick and the Bandits’ Lexi Kilfoyl, which many fans expected as Corrick (2.04) and Kilfoyl (2.35) had the lowest ERAs in the entire league entering Saturday.
However, the bats got going in the fourth inning as each pitcher went through the lineup a second time. In the top of the fourth inning, the Bandits’ Bubba Nickles-Camarena hit a blooper to left field that scored Delanie Wisz from second base for the first run of the game.
The Talons immediately answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run from Tori Vidales to tie it up, 1-1.
The Bandits brought in pitcher Emiley Kennedy to start the fifth inning, but the Texas A&M alum faced immediate pressure after walking Sierra Sacco and hitting Maya Brady, the first two batters she faced. The free passes came back to bite. The Talons’ Sydney Romero moved her teammates into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Caroline Jacobsen brought in Sacco with a grounder to second base. The play at home was close, but Sacco slid in before the tag was applied. Vidales followed up with a sacrifice fly to score Brady and give the Talons a 3-1 lead.
Corrick returned to the mound for the sixth inning and retired the side in order, before another weather delay went into effect. The Talons are 14-0 this season when leading after five innings.
Will the Talons keep the momentum going or will the Bandits answer back?
When does the AUSL championship series resume?
Game 1 of the AUSL championship series will resume on ESPN2 on Sunday, July 27 at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. local) at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Game 2 will follow at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local).
How to watch Bandits vs. Talons: TV, stream for Game 2
Time: 2 p.m ET (1 p.m. CT)
Location: Rhoads Stadium (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+
Full AUSL championship series schedule
All times Eastern. * If necessary
The Talons secured home field advantage with the best record in the league:
Game 1 resumes – Sunday, July 27: Bandits vs. Talons (11:00 a.m., ESPN2)
Postponed due to weather delay. Talons lead 3-1 at the bottom of the sixth inning.
Game 2 – Sunday, July 27: Talons vs. Bandits (2 p.m., ESPN)
The Talons’ Montana Fouts, who has the third-lowest ERA (2.71) in the league, and the Bandits’ Taylor McQuillin are expected to start Game 2 on Sunday.
*Game 3 – Monday, July 28: Bandits vs. Talons (7 p.m., ESPN2)
Talons’ full roster
Head coach: Howard Dobson
General Manager: Lisa Fernandez
Catcher Sharlize Palacios (UCLA)
Infielder Bri Ellis (Arkansas)
Infielder Tori Vidales (Texas A&M)
Infielder Sydney Romero (Oklahoma)
Infielder Hannah Flippen (Utah)
Infielder Ali Aguilar (Washington)
Outfielder Sierra Sacco (Mississippi State)
Outfielder Caroline Jacobsen (Clemson)
Outfielder Victoria Hayward (Washington)
Utility Sahvanna Jaquish (LSU)
Utility Maya Brady (UCLA)
Pitcher Megan Faraimo (RHP, UCLA)
Pitcher Raelin Chaffin (RHP, Mississippi State)
Pitcher Montana Fouts (RHP, Alabama)
Pitcher Georgina Corrick (RHP, USF)
Pitcher Mariah Lopez (LHP, Utah)
Bandits’ full roster
Head coach: Stacey Nuveman Deniz
General Manager: Jenny Dalton-Hill
Catcher Jordan Roberts (Florida)
Catcher Mia Davidson (Mississippi) *Temporary Inactive List
Catcher Mary Iakopo (Texas)
Infielder Danielle Gibson Whorton (Arkansas)
Infielder Sydney McKinney (Wichita State)
Infielder Delanie Wisz (UCLA)
Infielder Erin Coffel (Kentucky)
Infielder Skylar Wallace (Florida)
Utility player Cori McMillan (Virginia Tech)
Outfielder Morgan Zerkle (Marshall)
Outfielder Bubba Nickles-Camarena (UCLA)
Outfielder Bella Dayton (Texas)
Pitcher Taylor McQuillin (LHP, Arizona)
Pitcher Emiley Kennedy (LHP, Texas A&M)
Pitcher Odicci Alexander (RHP, James Madison)
Pitcher Sarah Willis (RHP, UCF)
Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl (RHP, Oklahoma State)
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.