Recap: Faraimo throws first complete game of her pro career in 4-1 win

© Athletes Unlimited, LLC 2023 / Credit: Sarah Smith
Eric Rhew
Aug 05, 2023

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Pitcher Megan Faraimo has certainly proven she is playing like a veteran in Athletes Unlimited Softball’s Championship Season and if there were any questions, she made sure to answer them on Friday night.

Making her debut as a captain, the talented rookie authored the first complete game of her professional career while guiding Team Faraimo to an exciting 4-1 victory over Team Garcia in the nightcap at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

Faraimo, who upped her record to 2-0 in the circle, scattered five hits while allowing one run en route to securing MVP 2 honors. The former UCLA standout registered nine strikeouts and finished the evening with 224 leaderboard points.

Corner infielder Sam Fischer provided the offensive energy for Team Faraimo in the victory after going 2-for-3 with a home run and a single. Fischer, who claimed MVP 1 distinction, posted the fourth 200-point game of her Championship Season career after ending the night with 220 points.

Middie infielder Andrea Filler secured the MVP sweep for Team Faraimo after driving the game-winning runs with a single in the sixth inning to end Friday’s win with 140 leaderboard points.

Corner infielder Jessi Warren led Team Garcia in the loss by going 2-for-3 with a run batted in. Team captain Rachel Garcia (1-1) took the loss after giving four earned runs on three hits in 5.2 innings with six strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Team Faraimo broke a 1-all tie by plating three runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. After loading the bases on three consecutive walks, Filler drove in two runs with a single to left field for a 3-1 advantage. Fischer followed with a single down the left field line to add an insurance run.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Faraimo’s 224-point performance lifted into the top spot on the leaderboard with a 50-point edge over middle infielder Sierra Romero, while Garcia dipped to third place with 502 points. Fischer, meanwhile, stands sixth after collecting 220 leaderboard points in the victory.

GAME NOTES

  • Team Garcia and Team Faraimo combined to score five runs in Friday’s second game, moving the league’s season total to 46 runs through eight games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored this season as part of its ‘Round the Bases’ initiative.

  • Faraimo reached 200 leaderboard points in a game for the second time this season after notching 212 points last Sunday in Team McCleney’s 4-3 victory over Team Rhodes.

  • Faraimo became the eighth different pitcher in Championship Season history to record seven or more strikeouts in a game … She registered the 19th game with seven or more strikeouts in the league’s four-year history.

  • Warren registered the 13th multi-hit game of her Championship Season career with her two-hit performance.

  • Middle infielder Aubrey Leach received the first intentional walk of the season with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

  • The teams combined to leave 13 runners on base.

GAME MVPS

  • #1 – Sam Fischer (Team Faraimo, +60)
  • #2 – Megan Faraimo (Team Faraimo, +40)
  • #3 – Andrea Filler (Team Faraimo, +20)