Recap: Coffel, Alo Hit Back-to-Back Home Runs in 2-1 Victory for Team Leach
WICHITA, Kansas – Infielder Erin Coffel and designated player Jocelyn Alo each slugged a solo home run in the fourth inning as Team Leach overcame an early deficit to secure a split of its season-opening Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX doubleheader with a 2-1 triumph over Team Warren at a sold-out Wilkins Stadium on Monday evening.
The win allowed Team Leach to even its record at 1-1 in the opening series of the season, while Team Warren stands at 0-1.
Alo earned the first Game MVP award of her brief AU Pro Softball career after receiving MVP 1 honors. The all-time home run leader in NCAA Division I history, she blasted her first AU Pro Softball homer over the video board in left center field to give Team Leach a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning.
Coffel, meanwhile, also secured Game MVP distinction for the first time in her early Athletes Unlimited career with MVP 2 plaudits. Her solo home run with one out in the fourth inning evened the score at 1-1.
Rookie pitcher Payton Gottshall nailed down her first professional save in the victory, earning her MVP 3 recognition. The former Tennessee hurler allowed just one hit over the final three innings with one strikeout.
Montana Fouts, making her professional debut, earned the win in the circle after conceding one run on three hits in 4.0 innings with four strikeouts.
Alyssa Denham took the loss for Team Warren after giving two runs on three hits over 5.0 innings with three strikeouts. Four different players collected a hit offensively for Team Warren in the setback.
KEY MOMENT
After Team Warren took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by infielder Hannah Flippen, Team Leach responded in the fourth inning with a pair of solo blasts by Coffel and Alo.
LEADERBOARD IMPACT
Alo vaulted into the top spot on the leaderboard after collecting 210 points in the victory, while Coffel stands just 10 points behind in second place. Alo and Coffel are two of four players in the league with 200 or more leaderboard points after the opening night of the season.
GAME NOTES
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Team Warren initiated a captain’s challenge in the bottom of the fifth inning when outfielder McKenzie Clark was ruled safe on an infield single … The challenge was successful as the call was overturned with Clark being called out.
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The teams were a combined 1-for-13 in two-out situations while combining for seven total hits.
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Infielder Tori Vidales extended her AUX hitting streak to 13 consecutive games after recording a single in the top of the first inning … She is now 18-for-47 during the streak.
GAME MVPS
- #1 – Jocelyn Alo (Team Leach, +60)
- #2 – Erin Coffel (Team Leach, +40)
- #3 – Payton Gottshall (Team Leach, +20)
