Recap: Mazon pitched 5.1 scoreless innings in 3-1 victory

Eric Rhew

Aug 13, 2023

ROSEMONT, Ill. — Close games have been normal for fans to see during the first three weeks of the Athletes Unlimited Softball Championship Season and Sunday’s Week Three finale between Team Davidson and Team Faraimo was no exception.

Team Davidson used three extra-base hits and a stellar pitching performance from Mariah Mazon to complete the weekly schedule with a 3-1 victory over Team Faraimo at Parkway Bank Sports Complex.

The win allowed Team Davidson to close the week with a 2-1 record, while Team Faraimo failed to secure a win in its three games.

Mazon, who improved to a perfect 4-0 in the circle, garnered MVP 1 recognition after throwing 5.1 innings of scoreless relief. She scattered just two hits and induced 10 fly ball outs to finish with a game-high 234 leaderboard points.

Middle infielder Anissa Urtez and outfielder Megan Wiggins earned MVP 2 and MVP 3 honors, respectively, after both players hit a home run in the victory. Urtez brought in the eventual game-winning run with a solo shot to left center in the fourth inning, while Wiggins got the scoring started with a solo blast down the right field line in the top of the first inning.

Urtez tallied 190 leaderboard points in the victory, while Wiggins followed with 178 points.

Rookie outfielder Caroline Jacobsen drove in the lone run for Team Faraimo in the loss with a double to left center in the second inning. Middle infielder Abby Ramirez notched a pair of hits and scored the team’s only run.

Rookie pitcher Megan Faraimo (3-1) suffered her first loss of the campaign after allowing three runs on six hits over 6.0 innings with three strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

With the score even at 1-1, Team Davidson used a solo home run by Urtez in the fourth inning and an RBI triple from corner infielder Sam Fischer to build a 3-1 lead it did not relinquish. It was all Mazon needed as she retired 16 of the 18 hitters she faced to earn the victory.

LEADERBOARD IMPACT

The win allowed Davidson to remain a captain for the second straight week, while Urtez rose two spots into third place and will join Davidson, pitcher Odicci Alexander and outfielder Bubba Nickles as a captain for the penultimate week of the season.

GAME NOTES

Team Davidson and Team Faraimo combined to score four runs in Sunday’s Week Three finale, moving the league’s season scoring total to 119 runs through 18 games … Aspiration is committed to planting 10 trees for every run scored as part of its ‘Aspiration Round the Bases’ initiative.
Team Davidson turned a pair of double plays in the contest.
The teams were a combined 4-for-22 with runners on base and 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Team Davidson and Team Faraimo also fashioned a combined 5-for-22 effort in advancement opportunities.
Mazon registered 200 or more leaderboard points for the first time in her Championship Season career, while Urtez reached the 150-point plateau for the 14th time in her career … Urtez is tied with pitcher Aleshia Ocasio for the most career 150-point performances in Championship Season history.