Recap: Lorenz, Nickles Propel Team Lorenz to 3-1 Victory Over Team McQuillin

Nickles garnered MVP 1 accolades and a game-high 190 leaderboard points after going 3-for-4 with a double and two singles. The former UCLA standout also drove in all three runs for Team Lorenz in the victory.

Lorenz, meanwhile, claimed MVP 2 distinction with 180 leaderboard points following a 2-for-2 effort with a double and two walks in her debut as a captain.

Aleshia Ocasio (1-0) earned her first win of the season after giving up just one hit over 2.1 innings with a walk. Kathryn Sandercock, who drew the start in the circle, threw 2.2 innings before being replaced by Ocasio, but returned in the seventh inning to nail down her first save of the campaign.

Five different players tallied a hit in the loss for Team McQuillin, including outfielder McKenzie Clark, who belted a solo home run in the third inning to give her squad a 1-0 lead.

Taylor McQuillin dropped to 2-1 in the circle after allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work.

KEY MOMENT

Team McQuillin claimed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning before Team Lorenz answered with three consecutive runs for a 3-1 advantage it did not relinquish. Nickles drove in a pair of runs with a double to left field in the fourth inning before adding an RBI single in the sixth frame

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

Lorenz, who collected her first career win as a captain, surged into the top spot on the leaderboard with 630 points, while McQuillin stands second with 520 points. Catcher Jordan Roberts rose seven spots in the league standings with 440 points, owning a share of eighth place with corner infielder Tori Vidales.

GAME NOTES

• The first pitch for Friday’s Week Two opener between Team Lorenz and Team McQuillin was delivered at 10:29 a.m., marking the earliest start to a game in Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball history … It is the fifth time in Championship Season history that a game started before Noon local time.

• Captains now own a 16-19 all-time record in their first game as a team leader in AU Pro Softball Championship Season history.

• Pitcher Alyssa Denham saw her 12-game win streak come to a close with Team McQuillin’s setback on Friday afternoon … It marked her first loss since August 6, 2023, in Team Zerkle’s 1-0 loss against Team Faraimo.

• Lorenz has now won her last eight games dating back to last season, while Roberts ran her streak to seven victories in a row.

• Lorenz has hit safely in three straight games after leading off the game with a single through the right side … She also recorded her second straight multi-hit outing after adding a double in the third inning.

• Lorenz has reached base safely in seven of her last nine plate appearances, including the last six in a row.

• Nickles registered a hit for the fourth consecutive game after reaching on a single and advancing to second base in the third inning … The former UCLA standout has hit safely in 13 of her last 15 games dating back to the 2023 Championship Season.

• Nickles has posted multiple hits in 3-of-4 games this season … She also became the third player this season to record a three-hit performance.

• Middle infielder Kelsey Harshman snapped a 1-for-9 skid with a single through the left side in the bottom of the sixth inning.

GAME MVPS

• #1 – Bubba Nickles (Team Lorenz, +60)
• #2 – Amanda Lorenz (Team Lorenz, +40)
• #3 – McKenzie Clark (Team McQuillin, +20)