Recap: Roberts' Grand Slam Propels Team Mazon to 6-5 Victory

The win allowed Team Mazon to begin the final series of the season with a 1-0 record, while Team Alo dropped to 0-1.

Catcher Jordan Roberts led the early charge for Team Mazon by slugging a grand slam in the first inning to earn MVP 1 honors and a season-high 180 leaderboard points. Middle infielder Aubrey Leach followed with MVP 2 distinction and 150 leaderboard points after posting a 3-for-4 effort with two runs scored.

Team captain Mariah Mazon upped her record to 2-1 in the circle after giving up four runs on four hits with four strikeouts over 5.0 innings. Rookie Maddie Penta secured the first save of her professional career after throwing the final two frames, conceding one run on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.

Corner infielder Sam Fischer paced Team Alo with a pair of hits, including a two-run home run in the first inning, while scoring twice to collect MVP 3 accolades and 120 leaderboard points.

Aleshia Ocasio (2-2) suffered the loss in the circle after allowing six runs on five hits in 2.0 innings with two strikeouts.

KEY MOMENT

Led by Roberts’ grand slam, Team Mazon surged to a 6-2 advantage in the first two innings. Team Alo used a two-run homer by middle infielder Hannah Flippen to trim the deficit to 6-4 in the third inning before an RBI single by middle infielder Erin Coffel in the sixth inning made it a 6-5 margin. However, Team Alo was unable to get any closer.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Leach elevated eight spots up the leaderboard after her MVP 2 effort, moving her into sixth place with 830 points. Mazon, meanwhile, holds second place with 960 points with her squad’s victory. Designated player Jocelyn Alo remains the league leader with 1,008 points.

GAME NOTES

• Corner infielder Jessi Warren was named Defensive MVP for the second time this season and finished with 128 leaderboard points … She was also 1-for-2 with a walk and a hit by pitch.

• Team Alo initiated a captain’s challenge on a base hit by designated player Kayla Kowalik in the bottom of the fifth inning … The call was overturned to an out and the challenge was successful.

• Teams are now 5-for-13 in captain’s challenges this season.

• Eleven of the 13 games this season have been decided by two runs or less, including eight contests with a one-run margin.

• Fischer belted the 13th home run of her Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball career, moving her into a tie for ninth place on the all-time list with catcher Taylor Edwards and catcher Mia Davidson.

• Roberts became the third player to hit a grand slam during the 2024 AUX season, joining Edwards and outfielder McKenzie Clark … It also marked the seventh grand slam in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball AUX history.

• Roberts also stands as the 13th different player to hit a grand slam in any Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball game.

• Leach ran her hitting streak to five consecutive games with an infield single in the first inning … The former Tennessee standout has notched four straight multi-hit outings after her three-hit performance in Saturday’s opener.

• Flippen’s home run in the third inning extended her hitting streak to six games … She also became the 21st different player to hit a homer through 13 games this season.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Jordan Roberts (Team Mazon, +60)
• #2 – Aubrey Leach (Team Mazon, +40)
• #3 – Sam Fischer (Team Alo, +20)
• Defensive MVP – Jessi Warren (Team Mazon, +20)