Recap: Andrews' extra-inning hit propels Team Alexander to 4-3 victory

Eric Rhew

Aug 09, 2023

GREENVILLE, North Carolina — Outfielder Aliyah Andrews drove in the game-winning run with a single in the bottom of the ninth inning as Team Alexander snuck past Team Faraimo, 4-3, to complete the first-ever AU Pro Games at the Little League Softball World Series at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The win capped a twinbill that saw both games end with identical 4-3 counts.

Andrews, who was 3-for-5 in the victory, earned MVP 1 honors after her game-winning performance and closed the night with 200 leaderboard points. She also added a single in the third inning and double in the seventh frame.

Corner infielder Danielle Gibson was the game’s MVP 2 selection following a 3-for-4 performance, including a two-run home run in the first inning and a pair of singles, to secure a game-high 210 leaderboard points.

Rookie pitcher Kathryn Sandercock earned her first win as a professional with 3.0 innings of scoreless relief. The former Florida State standout collected five strikeouts and did not allow a hit en route to accumulating 142 leaderboard points and the MVP 3 commendation.

Catcher Dejah Mulipola paced the Team Faraimo offense with a two-run home run in the first inning. Pitcher Georgina Corrick (0-4) took the loss in relief after allowing one unearned run on three hits with seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

With two outs in the ninth inning, Andrews hit a fly ball into shallow center field that dropped in front of outfielder Haylie McCleney, bringing pitcher Odicci Alexander home from second base for the game-winning run.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

The extra-inning victory allowed Alexander to take over first place on the leaderboard with 944 points and enters Saturday’s action with an 18-point edge over catcher Mia Davidson. Gibson, meanwhile, surged 20 places in the league standings and has 652 leaderboard points.

GAME NOTES

Team Faraimo and Team Alexander combined to score seven runs during Wednesday’s second game, upping the league’s season total to 98 runs through 14 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of the ‘Aspiration Round the Bases’ initiative.
Team Faraimo and Team Alexander played the fifth extra-inning game in Championship Season history … It was the first extra-inning contest since Team Chidester downed Team Jaquish, 10-8, in nine innings on September 26, 2021.
The nine-inning game between Team Faraimo and Team Alexander equaled the Championship Season record for the longest game, equaling the nine-inning affair between Team Chidester and Team Jaquish on September 26, 2021.
Team Alexander’s first five hitters in the lineup accounted for all nine of the team’s hits and drove in all four runs in the victory.
Team Faraimo’s pitching staff combined to throw 14 strikeouts with Faraimo and Corrick each registering seven strikeouts … Team Alexander’s pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts in the victory.
Team Faraimo challenged a hit by pitch drawn by Alexander with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, which was unsuccessful.
A trio of upcoming Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season games have been moved to ESPN2 broadcasts, including the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, August 13, between Team Alexander and Team Romero at 4:30 p.m. ET.