Recap: Alexander, Sandercock shutout Team Davidson in 4-0 win

Eric Rhew

Aug 12, 2023

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Shutouts are rare in Athletes Unlimited Softball, but pitchers Odicci Alexander and Kathryn Sandercock made it look easy in Saturday’s opening game between Team Alexander and Team Davidson at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

Alexander and Sandercock combined to hold Team Davidson to just four hits with six strikeouts as Team Alexander blanked Team Davidson by a 4-0 count.

The win allowed Team Alexander to remain undefeated with a 2-0 record, while Team Davidson saw its record split at 1-1.

Alexander, who improved to 2-0 in the circle, claimed MVP 1 recognition after scattering two hits over 5.0 innings with six strikeouts to finish with 250 leaderboard points.

Sandercock, meanwhile, authored her second save of the campaign and received MVP 2 honors after retiring all six batters she faced in the final two frames, securing 184 leaderboard points in the victory.

Catcher Gwen Svekis was the game’s MVP 3 selection with a 1-for-3 performance at the plate to accumulate 150 leaderboard points.

Designated player Nadia Taylor paced Team Davidson in the loss with a pair of hits, including a double, while middle infielders Aubrey Leach and Anissa Urtez accounted for the squad’s other two hits. Pitcher Taylor McQuillin suffered the loss after giving up one run on three hits over 5.1 innings with three strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Alexander gave her squad a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning with a single to center field before Team Alexander added three insurance runs in the seventh inning.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Alexander remained the league leader with 1,194 leaderboard points after her 250-point performance, while outfielder Bubba Nickles moved up three spots into second place after driving in two runs and recording 130 points.

GAME NOTES

Team Alexander and Team Davidson combined to score four runs in Saturday’s opener, raising the league’s season runs total to 102 through 15 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of the ‘Aspiration Assists’ initiative.
Team Alexander registered the third shutout in the league this season … Team Denham blanked Team Mulipola by a 4-0 count on July 30 before Team Faraimo edged Team Zerkle, 1-0, on August 6.
Eight different players accounted for Team Alexander’s eight hits in the win on Saturday.
Team Davidson’s leadoff hitters failed to reach base in any inning … In addition, Team Davidson was 0-for-6 in advancement opportunities.
Team Alexander was 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 6-of-11 in two-out situations.
Alexander and Sandercock combined to record strikes on 70.8 percent of their pitches.
Alexander has recorded 14 strikeouts in her last three outings in the circle after her season-high six strikeouts on Saturday … She also allowed just two earned runs in her last 14.0 innings during that span.